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Return to Article: Senate panel votes to raise federal judges' pay

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  You all waited this long to complain about your pay?! Do you really have any idea how many people haven't gotten raises in a few years and lost their jobs? And isn't it interesting that the media slipped this one below the radar. Is their any kind of annual review that is linked to pay? Maybe there is more the reporter couldn't add due to size limit.

  Kath Posted January 3, 2009 2:33 PM
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  the average lawyer's salary in the US is less than $90K a year. those that make more are either very good or crooks. its the only profession with no oversight, when cases are reversed due to inadequate council have you ever read where the lawyer had to give back the fee's ??

  dan ketter Posted February 4, 2008 10:16 PM
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  A solution to a problem that only exists in the minds of a few. Conceded on all points regarding the last time pay was increased and first-year legal salaries. However, this is a lifetime appointment and is somewhat less strenuous than the first job out of law school.

  The one thing that I hope comes out of this is that perhaps the Judicial Conference and the AO can finally shut up about this for a few more years and realize that they have HR and management problems a little closer to ground level that need attention.

  John K Posted February 4, 2008 3:15 PM
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  Before you grumble about judges receiving 32% increase - do the math! I looked at the pay rases for 1994-2008 and if you calc the annual raises (varying between 1.8 and 4.5%) the combined total increase is 57.3% since 1994 - I think that fares very well against judges not receiving a pay raise since 1991 and ONLY getting 32% fixed. As a GS employee - small annual raises compound much higher. You do the math, I'll count my blessings...

  Quik Calc Posted February 4, 2008 2:13 PM
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  I don't think any of us would want to be included in a pay plan that has not had an increase (not even COLA)for over 10 years. A kid right out of law school who clerks for a Federal judge will likely make more in his first year than the judge she worked for!

  Rick Posted February 4, 2008 12:26 PM
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  We have many qualified lawyers wanting federal judgeships, so it does not matter if we have a few leave. In fact, turnover is what the Congress and Judges both need. Doesn't the law of supply and demand apply to these arrogant black robed individuals too? Most of them are political hacks that knows a Senator that appoints them. Most would not understand what it is like to be poor in this country. Federal Judges are paid too much for the lifetime appointment, limited work schedule, and benefits they get, including, their retirement is their yearly pay. Where in America does that happen? Congress is creating another upper class by inceasing Judges pay for the work. Once they get these raises, they can never be reduced for a federal judge. This is another perfect example of those with clout, and access to Congress getting themselves a raise.

  Frank Foster Posted February 4, 2008 11:50 AM
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  The increase for judges is long overdue. They are not paid anything close to what they use to make, factoring in inflation. Now they just have to deal with the pay caps affecting Senior Level, Senior Technical, ALJs and GS-15s

  Stefan Silzer Posted February 4, 2008 11:36 AM
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  Isn't this interesting. Federal employees and the military had to struggle to get 3.5%. Judges and Congressmen get 32%. And they wonder why we have recruitment and retention problems.

  un appreciated fed Posted February 2, 2008 11:22 AM
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  To answer your question, law is a valued profession in this country while engineering and related DoD positions clearly are not.

  Thus, the private sector rewards lawyers. My brother started at $125K per year out of Georgetown law school 8 years ago, for example.

  Government law positions therefore have to pay more handsomely than government DoD positions in order to be able to recruit and retain competent people.

  Higher level judges such as those discussed in the article could easily command six figure incomes in the private sector, while no DoD employee could.

  Bob Posted February 1, 2008 1:22 PM
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  I wonder why they just don't put the judges on the same pay plan we in DoD are getting, it would save the senator's time, in that they have already worked out the details. And I am sure the judges would find the pay pool concept just, fair and equable.

  Loren Lockard Posted February 1, 2008 11:16 AM