Judge orders state to give pay hike to judges

AP via SFGate ^ | 6/11/8 | SAMUEL MAULL, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

New York (AP) -- A judge has ordered New York's governor, Senate and Assembly to raise the pay of the state's judges within the next 90 days.

State Supreme Court Justice Edward Lehner in Manhattan said Wednesday that the defendants unconstitutionally abused their power by depriving judges of a pay hike for almost 10 years. He said state legislators illegally linked a judicial salary increase to one for themselves.

Lehner, who acknowledged he would be affected by his own decision, ordered the state to raise judicial pay to reflect cost of living increases since 1998.

[SmithL]

It is GOOD to be King.

Just ask any Judge.

[rabscuttle385]

Lehner, who acknowledged he would be affected by his own decision, ordered the state to raise judicial pay to reflect cost of living increases since 1998.

Talk about conflict of interest! Lehner just abused his power for personal gain.

[samtheman]

Is it revolution time yet?

[KoRn]

May be of interest.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Tell the judge to stick it - he should have recused himself for the blatant conflict of interest.

[Always Right]

I just ordered my boss to give me a raise, but my wife said no.

[goldstategop]

Judges can order elected officials around. TO DO ANYTHING THEY WANT. So much for checks and balances and the constitutional separation of powers. We live today in a kaikistocracy.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[jude24]

Not necessarily. He did acknowledge the conflict of interest. The problem is, there is not a judge that could rule on the issue.

Here's the problem. Starting first-year associates at the big law firms make double or triple what a judge makes now. What does that do to the profession when a kid fresh out of law school makes more than the person who decides his case?

[Tzimisce]

It must be good to raise your own salary.

[rottndog]

We are not that far removed from seeing black robes swinging under trees.....

[y6162]

“...unconstitutionally abused their power...”

NY judges have a constitutional right to a raise?

If I was a legislator, I wouldn’t bother appealing to the Supreme Court. She started the law suit.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Is that the same argument NFL referees should use to rationalize higher salaries because a rookie QB might make $20 million a year and they only pull down $100 grand?

The judge is always free to seek an income source he is more comfortable with.

[KarlInOhio]

He said state legislators illegally linked a judicial salary increase to one for themselves.

The article didn't have any background information on this. Did he site the NY state constitution and law, or did he just make it up on the spot?

[Mr. Lucky]

If the judge is unhappy with his pay, he could find another line of work.

[KarlInOhio]

The judge is always free to seek an income source he is more comfortable with.

If you don't pay judges enough you get incompetent boobs who just make things up as they go along. For example this judge.

[jude24]

Problem is, we need judges - and if good attorneys are constantly lured away by higher salaries in public practice, who will be the judges?

[pgkdan]

If NY doesn’t impeach this buffoon then they deserve what they get.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Then legislatures need to remove the incompetent boobs from their positions.

[Boston Blackie]

This payroll patriot of a judge could return to the dreaded private sector if he so desired.

[stevio]

It is waaaaay past time.