Scalia wants a raise. (Yeah, we'll get right on that.)

[Bluebear]

McLEAN, Va. - The federal judiciary will increasingly fail to attract the best-qualified lawyers if judges' pay doesn't improve, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Wednesday.

"If you become a federal judge in the Southern District of New York (Manhattan), you can't raise a family on what the salary is," Scalia said during a speech to the Northern Virginia Technology Council.
Federal judges earned salaries of $165,200 in 2006. Scalia said lawyers can easily earn significantly more by staying in the private sector.

The result, Scalia said, is that the judiciary will increasingly appeal only to those who have made a career out of public-sector work. "More and more, we cannot attract the really bright lawyers. It's too much of a sacrifice," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061213/ap_on_re_us/scalia_speech

[Hippo_Tron]

1. If Scalia wants a raise I have a great solution for him

RESIGN

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

15. He's the primary example of the point he's making, eh?

:)

[Selatius]

2. Here's a Republican talking point:

If you can't afford to live on Manhattan, then move to some place cheaper.

[Bluebear]

24. EXACTLY.

Precisely what they would say!

[wakeme2008]

3. Translation-- Repug Lawyers are making too much $$ in the private sector

and only those other ppl are still interested in a job as a judge...

[Kiouni]

4. I'm pretty sure they don't work year round

I remember reading an article about this couldn't find it but they get a substantial portion of the year off.

[benfranklin1776]

5. Gee my heart is breaking

After all we know that $165,200 just doesn't go as far as it used to these days. And after all we would not want people being judges who are public service minded and have made a career of that because they can't be "bright" unless they are pillaging the workers and plundering the environment as corporate lawyers, and, horror of horrors, as judges they may actually rule in favor of the average person for a change :sarcasm:

Gee there El Nino, if you think that is tough try living on minimum wage in those areas or even the median American family income. He shows once more he is nothing but an elitist ass.

[Bluebear]

6. What do you get for jury duty, $5.00 a day?

Elitist ass is right.

[benfranklin1776]

9. Very good point.

But then he never concerns himself with those matters that people who live in the real world must deal with. It is the "suffering" of the powerful that preoccupies his time.

[wavesofeuphoria]

14. Actually, in NY its $40 a day to be a juror. NY has also ..

changed the system so that its very difficult to get an exemption from serving. There use to be lots of exemptions, they've mostly been eliminated. Once you serve or meet your duty, then you won't be called for 6 years. Its a good start actually ...

[dsc]

7. He is right about this

In many big cities associates at law firms are making over 100k and partners make much more. We have major problems attracting judges who aren't total ideologues and this is one reason.

[Bluebear]

8. Start a bake sale for him then.

This "attracting the best and brightest" shit gets old when the Congress won't approve an increase in minimum wage from $5.15/hour.

[dsc]

10. they aren't mutually exclusive

But take Edwards as an example. After all his hard work to get his law degree no way would he have gone to the Federal bench. If we don't raise salaries we will end up with a judiciary of independently wealthy judges or ideologues.

[Bluebear]

21. I realize they are not mutually exclusive

However I would still vote to work on the minimum wage, then we can get to Scalia's grievances. :)

[Roland99]

11. And teachers make 30-40k? Where the hell are the priorities?

[Bluebear]

22. There you have it.

American values!

[cassiepriam]

12. Oh yeah, they deserve a raise, look what good work the SC does. y do.

They selected * after all. Don't they deserve something for that?

[rock]

13. Can't he just raise his bribery rates?

Or would that be considered unethical?

[Bluebear]

18. All those lavish hunting and fishing trips he goes on courtesy of Cheney

You would think that would count for SOMETHING!

[Bluebear]

28. wrong spot

[sendero]

16. Judge Scalia...

... is the textbook example of not being a "really bright lawyer".

But since he isn't, I'm sure he'll understand why most of us don't really want to give him a raise. Since he was instrumental in foisting a bogus and unqualified president on the country, I think a pay cut would be in order, at a minimum.

[Bluebear]

19. Indeed.

if only we could sue the 2000 Bush court voters for malpractice.

[Swamp Rat]

17. Send him S&M porn

:D

He seems like the type who is into bestiality.

[Bluebear]

20. "Oafus Dei"

:rofl:

[LSK]

23. so by my rough calculations, thats $8500 after taxes per month

Greed in this country knows no bounds.

[Bluebear]

25. Which is probably what after taxes are for a whole year..

for someone on minimum wage.

[originalpckelly]

26. Judges do need raises, as do others whom work in our justice system.

I'm glad Scaliar had enough courage to speak up for the court, being a conservative and all.

[Bluebear]

27. When the minimum wage goes above $5.15 I would love to entertain it.

Until then :nopity:

[originalpckelly]

29. I also want the minimum wage raised...

but Scalia and other judges have zero control over that, why punish the judges of America for something the legislative and executive branches are doing?

I also think prosecutors and public defenders ought to have raises as well.

[Bluebear]

30. Scalia had perfect control over who he selected as President.

His whole conservative party has stifled raising minimum wage for how long now? I don't think $165,000 a year is exactly "punishing" somebody.