Guilty of greed.

[M_Six]

This kind of thing gets my goat. These bozos are already overpaid and they're trying to force a raise while the rest of us low-paid state slaves get nothing? "

Judicial salaries range from $127,247 to $158,103. The increase would mean about $4,000 more a year for some jurists.

Lord knows, one can hardly live off that meager sum.

[pickel]

You know Juctice can't be bought...only the judiciary

[J-Excel]

I don't know man. That's not a lot considering all the school they have to go through, and what they'd get for practicing law in the private sector.

[M_Six]

Then fine, if they want to make more money, let 'em go back to the private sector. There's ten thousand lawyers ready to take their places. The economy here is in shambles, thousands are getting laid off, tens of thousands more haven't had raises in years, and these highly-paid bozos are suing for more money. The lawsuit alone will cost the state millions it doesn't have. IMO, they should all be dismissed.

[CERuppel]

I'm with you M_Six;

Next year the union will be going into contract talks for us, with the expectation that both less jobs and lower pay. And that is good side of the coin. (Plant closed, have a nice day...).

And all I hear is that this or that state paid elected (or hourly, see the detroit news for a real eye popper) official is getting all upset because he isn't getting paid more.

Why aren't these people paid based on the average income of the people they represent? Simple, and it puts them in touch with the people at the same time.

[willy_ph]

CE, what company do you happen to work for?

Best of luck to you and the union as well.

[Theophylact]

Somebody's got to be a judge, just as somebody has to be a teacher. Why do you think a job should be poorly paid just because somebody wants to do it?

Is it right that someone with thirty years of legal experience should be paid as poorly as someone fresh out of law school, just because (s)he is willing to serve the public in a thankless job?

[M_Six]

You call $125k to $155k per year poorly paid? I should be so poorly paid. I'd be happy with half that amount. The point is, there's a lot of people in the state system that are underpaid, yours truly among them. But none of us are getting raises and many are getting laid off. It isn't like these judges haven't been getting paid well all along. They're just mad because they haven't had a raise in a while. Join the club. We all have been going without raises. But if and when money is available for raises, it should not go to those at the top of the pay scale first. They can bite the bullet and keep their year-old Mercedes for another six months.

[no1_vern]

How much money would you pay if you had a serious JUDICIAL problem? A judge needs to be capable of making rational, dispassionate, and wise decisions. I dont know any judges, but they (I think) have a tough job. One where the judge HAS to be able to think clearly, interpret the laws correctly, be totally honest in assessing the problem.

BTW - lawyers will gladly accept the job AS LONG as it reduces their caseload, OR PAYS MORE than they are getting now. Also increasing the amount a judge is paid helps ensure that a Judge will NOT be tempted by bribes or other "considerations".

What would you think of a judge who made $35,000 a year or so and handed down a judgement against a person who had been injured by a big corporation? How can you ensure it was just if you dont ensure the judge cant be bought?

[M_Six]

I am not advocating pay cuts for the judges. When did I even hint that they should be paid less? I am simply saying that in these tough economic times, everyone loses and those at the top of the pay scale should be the last to benefit when money does become available. The fact that they're suing the state is ludicrous. It's only going to cost the state money it doesn't have to waste and make it more difficult for anyone to get a raise.