Chief Justice Roberts Wants A Raise, Poor Guy Can't Make It...

[dajoki]

on his paltry $212,000 salary, and whatever else he can manage to scrape up. He says he and other judges could do better in private practice or at prestigious universities. Well, than I say do us all a favor and go for it, what's holding you back, you'll be happier(richer). And although we won't get any richer, we will be happier. Now wait, maybe some of us will be able to put a few extra bucks in our pockets, I mean with all your anti-labor decisions and your backing of corporate greed...well lets just say you won't hurt us by leaving the Court.

So if you have any thoughts about your civic duty or serving your country, we understand, don't let us hold you back. You put your time in and now it's your turn to grab a piece of the pie. Gee, you will probably jump into a higher tax bracket, therefore earning yourself a well deserved tax break, sounds like a win-win to me. Just remember one thing on the way out, DON"T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS!!
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Chief Justice Argues for 'Vital Legislation' to Raise Pay for Federal Judges
By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 1, 2008; Page A03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/31/AR2007123102591.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. renewed his call for a pay raise for federal judges and pledged new cooperation with the other branches of government in his year-end report on the federal judiciary.

Roberts last year devoted his entire report to making the case for higher salaries for judges, and Congress has responded with at least a tentative plan for pay increases.

"We are grateful for the continuing support of the bipartisan leadership in both the House and the Senate, as well as the support of the president, on this vital legislation," Roberts wrote in the report, released today.

<<snip>>

The House Judiciary Committee voted 28 to 5 in December to increase the pay of federal district judges from $165,200 to $233,500. Salaries for appeals court judges would increase from $175,100 to $247,500, while the pay for Supreme Court justices would jump from $203,000 to $286,900. Roberts's own salary would increase from $212,000 to $299,800.

A bill proposed in the Senate would approve larger increases.

Roberts and others have made the case that judicial salaries are far below what judges could make in private practice or at prestigious universities, resulting in more judges leaving the bench.

[C_U_L8R]

1. here's a suggestion... quit

apparently Roberts does not have what it takes to serve the common good.

[muntrv]

2. John, don't you know that if you want anything in life, you need to work for it?

You can't just have it handed to you.:evilgrin:

[FormerDittoHead]

3. My suggestions

Yes, PLEASE return to private practice! Oh my GOD PLEASE

or, if you're really hard up, "write" (like any of these guys write their own books) another "conservative principles" book for a think tank and get your $3M like your other nazi-whore friends do...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. Know what? When people need money, they look for a higher paying job.

This a-hole needs to stop being Chief Justice and go do some other evil thing Repukes like to do.

[dflprincess]

5. So...military personnel can't even get 3.5%,

but the judiciary get 41%?

Something is wrong with this picture.

[dajoki]

8. Yeah, and...

SS recepients got 2.3%.

[Canuckistanian]

6. "New cooperation" with other branches of government?

Excuse me, but isn't it the point of a different branch of government to have ummm, say different opinions and conclusions than the others?

[dajoki]

7. It was, until the Bush administration arrived n/t

[tammywammy]

9. I agree with Roberts on this

We need good people in the federal justice system, and the pay should be somewhat more competitive with what the private sector can provide.

[Canuckistanian]

10. And I disagree with you

Public service is something that should be done for the common good, not personal benefit.

Of course, that concept can go terribly wrong if public officials are paid TOO little because it makes them more succeptable to bribes and corruption.

But as a general principle, public service SHOULD involve some measure of sacrifice.

There should not even be an attempt to "compete" with deep-pocketed powerful private agencies or companies.

If money is what you want, then maybe you shouldn't be a government official.

[tammywammy]

11. That's fine we can disagree

:)

I also think that minimum wage and all government wages (including judges) should be tied to inflation. Plus, if Congress gets their yearly wage, then so should judges and minimum wage.

[kdmorris]

23. Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding

If I had consumed more coffee, I might have posted something along these lines instead of whining about my own salary.

But, alas... you got it right the first time! :toast:

[nickinSTL]

29. I agree that there's no need to match private sector pay...

and I have a hell of a hard time feeling sorry for someone making over $200k a year.

[onenote]

36. salaries for federal judges have declined in real dollars

since the 1960s, while salaries for state judges and top law school professors (the most common pool for appointment to the federal judiciary) have been increasing.

[dajoki]

16. He knew what he was getting into n/t

[tammywammy]

17. I agree

I don't see this as him complaining for himself, he's advocating raises across the board.

[dajoki]

25. I see both n/t

[Horse with no Name]

27. There is a reason they do this

and the reason is so that besting their financial interests is NOT the reason that individuals choose to serve the people.
Once you make it a lifetime cushy job with a great salary...then you attract vermin LIKE Roberts to serve.

[hughee99]

33. I do too...

You don't need to make it equal, but making it more competitive will make it easier to attract and retain better people. I'm surprised by the people who say that they knew what they were getting into or that they should just go find better jobs if they want more money, because I rarely hear that when it comes to other government workers salaries (like teachers, for example).

I realize that judges make far more than teachers, but the incentive to attract and retain better people with more competitive salaries is the same regardless of how much one makes.

[frankenforpres]

12. $200K is sort of a joke

for the top judge in the country.

[Horse with no Name]

28. Appropriate because the TOP JUDGE is a JOKE. n/t

[Vickers]

13. I believe the legal phrase is:

"fuck you."

[gratuitous]

14. I agree that judges should be paid more

But that fatuous statement about "new cooperation with the other branches of government" is just so much horseshit. The judiciary is supposed to interpret the laws passed by Congress.

On the other hand, Roberts knew what the pay scale was when he took the job. How much lobbying did he do for pay increases before it affected him personally? If none, then he should shut up. He's still got a pretty sweet deal, considering the hours he has to work, and the fact that he doesn't need to maintain a certain number of billable hours, and the total health care coverage for everything, not to mention the lucrative opportunities for extracurricular activities with his favorite pet conservative think tanks.

[tammywammy]

15. I don't think he's lobbying for the raise for himself

As much as it's a raise for all the judges. Rehnquist was always for raises for federal judges as well.

[CK_John]

18. New Year's prediction. John Roberts will be nominated by GOP at their convention.

Posted earier today. Check it out.
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3922179>

[Vickers]

19. Somebody better let him know that only pays $400,000.

Don't want him making any rash decisions.

[Didereaux]

20. Graft is far more difficult to get as a sitting USSupCt justice,,,you have to go out and

work for it...ala the speech circuit. And even that is frowned upon. Todays repugs need graft infusions to live.

[kdmorris]

21. Wow... I make way less than half that

$212,000... I make $79,000 and because of the policies of assholes like that, I can't get a raise. Why give raises to computer programmers when you can just outsource it all to India anyway?

Disclaimer: I also realize that I make more than 98% of the people in the world and this shouldn't be construed as a complaint about my salary. It hasn't gone as far the last couple of years, due to gas prices, homeowners insurance, etc, but it goes a hell of a lot farther than say.... $40,000.

[hayu_lol]

22. The beauty of the Bush SCOTUS nominees...the successful ones...

One of Robert's first public comments after winning the chief justice's seat was that the job was vastly underpaid. He went on at length, but for some reason, he has stuck around.

Perhaps he never should have been approved for the seat in the first place?

He probably looked at what Bush was stealing and figured that he could do a bit better as well.

Yeah, he should immediately resign.

[kdmorris]

37. So, on top of this

when I got to work today, after being on vacation for 2.5 weeks, we all received an email that states we will not receive any raises this year, even though I now have to pay an extra $60 a month for my health insurance.

I wish he would resign.

[dajoki]

24. That is what I'm talking about...

People like you and the $40,000 earners and under. Becuase of decisions like his on labor cases, that entire group is screwed.

[Horse with no Name]

26. Then do yourself (and us) a favor and QUIT. n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

30. He'll make millions on the lecture circuit when he's retired, but...

I could see an argument for raising the salaries of some of the lower level judges.

[Renew Deal]

31. The justices take a pay cut to do their job.

Especially people of that caliber. They can make much more in private practice. Also, justices serving in NYC and Washington DC make relatively less than justices that serve in other areas.

[dajoki]

34. Yes, that is true about the cities...

compared to where I live for example. Our judges are highly paid for the area they serve.

[Sulawesi]

32. They are grossly underpaid...

For a lawyer at their level of accomplishment? Let's not be petty. It is too easy to be cynical about raising wages for people in public office, but they have lives and salaries matter.

[onenote]

35. the salaries of federal judges should be increased

The fact is that in "real dollars", the salaries paid federal judges have declined by over 20 percent since the late 1960s. During that same period of time, the real dollar salaries of state court judges and academics have increased. Thus, even leaving aside the inflated salaries that can be made in private practice, as a matter of simple fairness, compensation for members of the federal judiciary should increase.

[tammywammy]

38. I knew I couldn't be the only one on here that thought Roberts was right

:shrug:

And I don't think it should be equal, but when you take someone that's at the Supreme Court or Federal Appeals judge level, in the private sector I'd believe they could easily make $1 million a year. It should be a little more competitive with the private sector, so that we can retain these great judges. What Roberts is pushing isn't just for himself and the Supreme Court associate justices, but all federal judges at all levels, democratic and republican.

Rehnquist also spoke about the need to raise federal judge salaries.

[dajoki]

39. I know what you are saying, but...

How often do you see judges at any level giving up their seats. So there must be some benefit to it.

[tammywammy]

40. That's not something I've really researched

I'll bookmark this thread and maybe this weekend I'll have some time.

:)

[dajoki]

41. Thanks n/t

:hi:

[hughee99]

42. On the flip side, how many good candidates

won't even have their name in the running for a judgeships because of the pay cut?

[dajoki]

43. True...

I guess nothing's perfect.

[Hawaii Hiker]

44. Fuck him..If he wanted more money, he should

have stayed in the private sector....He wants the money of the private sector plus he wants the power of being on the Supreme Court...

Can't have everything Johnny..