GovernmentExecutive.com

The House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to give federal judges a 31 percent pay increase, a move denounced by a senior Republican as failing "the smell test."

The bill cleared on a 28-5 vote and moves to the full House for consideration.

Advocated by Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts, the legislation was backed by Democrats and Republicans as needed, they said, to avoid losing judges to higher paying legal positions outside government.

Supporters of the pay raise said a U.S. district court judge's current $165,200 annual salary is less than what a law associate fresh out of law school receives in the first year with a New York law firm.

But Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said "a 31 percent increase -- it does not pass the smell test. ... Public service is its own reward."

The legislation, a compromise worked out by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., and Judiciary ranking member Lamar Smith, R-Texas, would set up an annual cost-of-living schedule for judges.

The bill severs the long-time link between congressional pay raises and that of the federal judiciary that gave pay hikes to active and senior federal judges only when Congress raised its pay.

COMMENTS

• Are Tax Court judges included in this? They are the laziest people I've ever seen. Once the facts are in they take about 1 1/2 years to render a decision. Ridiculous. LAZY. Jim Posted December 21, 2007 8:42 AM
• Sounds like something our Congress would approve. Only in America! Ditto...what a load of crap! I guess they figure they'd better get it while they can, in case some bleeding heart liberal begins an impeachment campaign (which might be quite appropriate, albeit probably several years too late). Some of these judges, had they resided in any other country might find themselves lucky to be pushing a wheelbarrel right about now, at a very meager wage. They're living in their own little Camelot worlds, quite successfullly I might add. To Hell with Justice. Show me the money, and give me my own parkig place! God Bless America...please. This is terribly sickening. It is stuff like this that makes me feel rather embarrassed and almost ashamed to be an American Citizen. Humble Civil Servant Posted December 19, 2007 8:38 AM
• And again here goes Washington. What a load of hypocritical CRAP! Why can't a law be passed that there is only one Cost of Living Increase per year that effects all Federal Employees, the President; Congress; Judges; right down to the lowest ranks of the military. Gary B. Sasin Posted December 18, 2007 9:10 AM