Miscellaneous

Latest Word from NY: Justice Orders Raise

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Wouldn't it be great if you could just order the legislature to give you a raise?

The latest episode in the NY judges' quest for a raise is an order from a justice, who opines that separation of powers (among other things) dictates the increase.

Recall the NY judges have not gotten a raise since just about ever. Chief Judge Kaye has nearly exhausted her editorial capabilities writing on behalf of the judges, public trust and confidence, and all things American.

The common argument is that first-year associates make more than sitting judges. There are (at least) two things wrong with this argument. First, judges aren't in it for the money. Many (most?) come from the private sector. They know what their salary will be before they get into the game.

Second, nobody ever questions the insanity of some first-year associate salaries. These are people in their early 20s who may have never held a full-time job. Now they have, what, a degree and bar admission? (Note to law schools: stop inflating those numbers! You just make the majority of us -- those in small firms and the public sector -- feel terrible.) Instead of asking whether a judge should make more than an associate, we should ask why associates are making so darn much.

Yet, we want judges to make a living wage, have a salary that keeps up with the cost of living (New York's apparently has not), and is at least somewhat attractive to prospective candidates. A too-low salary will only encourage bribery and scandal.

See A Justice Orders a Pay Raise for New York's Judges, John Eligon, NYT (June 12, 2008). Note to NYT: it's the "University of Richmond.,"

See also Increase Ordered for New York Judges, Scott Greenfield (who, unlike court-o-rama, didn't have to take kids to the pool before he got a chance to blog this morning), Simple Justice (June 12, 2008).

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on June 12, 2008 (boomark / email).