LCJ supports ensuring appropriate salaries for federal judges and resources for the federal judicial branch in order to preserve our high-quality, independent, diverse and impartial federal judiciary.
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The federal bench is strongest when it attracts experienced lawyers from a variety of legal backgrounds. An erosion in judicial salaries over the last decades has changed the makeup of the federal judiciary, which is increasingly composed of people at two ends of the spectrum: those wealthy enough not to care about their salaries, and those for whom a federal judicial salary represents a pay increase. The decreasing representation from the middle – most practicing lawyers – is a negative vital sign for the health of our courts.
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Life tenure is a critical element of judicial independence. It protects federal judges from the distractions and temptations of conforming their decisions with popular opinion. Judges are called to decide matters on the merits and not on the basis of how a decision will affect one party versus another. Confronted with inadequate compensation, however, an increasing number of federal judges have decided to leave the bench and return to private practice. Judges who have one eye on their job prospects may be more tempted than others to worry about the perceptions and effects of their decisions rather than the principles upon which they are based.
In addition to civil lawsuits, our federal courts also handle criminal, bankruptcy and immigration cases, among others. The courts also provide: pretrial and probation services in criminal cases; drug and mental testing and treatment services; and location monitoring both pre-trial and post-conviction. Meanwhile, court information systems are undergoing a transition to the digital age just like many industries. It is important for Congress to provide the courts sufficient resources to meet their obligations without forcing them to sacrifice in one area in order to perform adequately in another.
In addition to civil lawsuits, our federal courts also handle criminal, bankruptcy and immigration cases, among others. The courts also provide: pretrial and probation services in criminal cases; drug and mental testing and treatment services; and location monitoring both pre-trial and post-conviction. Meanwhile, court information systems are undergoing a transition to the digital age just like many industries. It is important for Congress to provide the courts sufficient resources to meet their obligations without forcing them to sacrifice in one area in order to perform adequately in another.
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For all these reasons, LCJ supports sufficient and consistent funding for the federal courts in order to ensure continuity of service and recently submitted a letter to Congress to support the Judicial Conference’s 2018 funding request for the judiciary. To view the letter, click here.
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