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In unusually blunt language, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy told a Senate committee today that salaries for federal judges are too low, that Congress should not cut the budget of the U.S. Marshal's service, and that the Supreme Court should not be required to allow in TV cameras.
Kennedy's appearance was unusual in several respects. First, justices normally appear only to testify about the budget for the judicial branch, not to comment on other issues. His appearance followed an invitation to the court, sent to the chief justice. Kennedy was the designated testifier.
Second, he gave what is apparently the first public expression about how the court, as a body, views the TV issue. A bill to allow cameras in the Supreme Court has the backing of Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., of the Judiciary Committee. But in appearing before the committee today, Kennedy said the justices often use oral argument to converse with each other, through the arguing lawyers. "Please don't introduce into the dynamics of our court the insidious temptation of trying to get a sound bite on TV. Please don't introduce that into our inter-collegial dynamics. We don't want that," Kennedy told the committee.
esSome members of the court have indicated in the past that they would favor TV coverage. Others (notably, Justice Souter, who said it would happen, "over my dead body") have been opposed. Today's statement by Kennedy is the first suggesting that the justices have discussed TV coverage among themselves and come to some sort of conclusion.
On salaries, he said that while federal judges certainly earn decent pay, averaging $160,000 a year, that's far lower than what good lawyers can make in private practice. "We simply must face the statistics. I'm losing my best judges, and not getting the highly qualified one at the other end," as young lawyers consider whether to accept judicial appointments.
"My Supreme Court clerks earn more a year after they leave here than I do," he said.
As for the administration's budget plan to cut spending for the U.S. Marshal's service, Kennedy said that's a bad idea, especially given recent attacks on judges. "I'm surprised that in this day and age a cut in Marshall's service would be proposed," he said.
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Early Nightly is up
Yes on Cameras in the Supreme Court!
Cameras in the Supreme Court can only improve intergovernmental communication. The Constitution belongs to us all, not just the nine robed royalty. It is time the Supreme Court is exposed to the scrutiny of the public in its constitutional adjudication of quintessential public policy issues. We should not have to wait six months for the linguistic gymnastics and circumlocutory syllogistic rhetoric of law clerks that make up Supreme Court opinions, to get a feel of how the Justices feel on an issue. When public policy issues should not have been granted certiorari, dissenting justices can tell congress and the American people to their face that the government is going awry. It is up to Congress to establish the exceptions and regulations to reel in the certiorari power of the Supreme Court to include only non-public policy issues. Public policy issues are political questions. The Supreme Court is out of control, and cameras are a good start to getting them in-line with the concept of "equal" branches of government.
Joe Public (Sent Feb 19, 2007 9:14:18 AM)
Yep..DITTO..good luck to you all in the private sector!
trish, baltimore (Sent Feb 15, 2007 9:04:42 PM)
I agree with Dee. I've clerked for two federal judges and the salary doesn't tell the whole story. While Judges do work hard for that money, their hours and stress are much less than in the private sector. Additionally, they have a generous pension plan. One older Judge told me that his pension would only be a few thousand dollars less than his yearly salary.
Nicole, Beaumont, Texas (Sent Feb 15, 2007 9:53:51 AM)
Best of luck to the judges when they leave to get a job in private practice that pays more.
(Sent Feb 15, 2007 9:43:53 AM)
If judges, and potential judges, cannot make it on $160,000 per year, then by all means they should go where the money is and enter the private sector.
Tell the +- 13,000,000 children under 18 who live in poverty that you just can't live on $160,000 per year.
Not to mention all the free perks to the judges which are not counted in the $160,000.
Dee (Sent Feb 14, 2007 7:25:10 PM)
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