oh BOO f-in' hoo

okay, so maybe there exist some arguments that the twu strike was a good tactic for a good cause, but if this makes anyone's heart bleed, we've definitely reached new lows.

in the event that any lefty readers are already seeing red before they click on that link, it's john roberts' call for a salary hike for federal judges.

Roberts, who took over leadership of the high court in late September, used strong language to urge Congress to boost judicial salaries. He called current pay levels "a direct threat to judicial independence."

"Every time a judge leaves the bench for a higher-paying job, the independence fostered by life tenure is weakened," wrote Roberts. "Every time a potential nominee refuses to be considered, the pool of candidates from which judges are selected narrows."

Roberts said that even an immediate 30-percent raise would, after inflation, return them only to what they were making in 1969.

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, District Court judges will earn $162,500 in 2006, the same as members of Congress, and Circuit Court judges will earn $175,100.

um, can *i* be a federal judge? please? appoint me already!

could it be that one reason is immobility? there are only so many circuit court positions, and only nine supreme court positions. even if you become a district court judge (already difficult), it's not likely that you're going to advance to the circuit court. and the supreme court? yeah right. good luck. if you're into prestige and advancement, maybe you might just get *bored* of being a district court or circuit court judge for the rest of your life and want to move onto something else. i don't think hiking up the salary 30% will make much of a difference.

perhaps a raise each year to keep up with inflation, but really, those salaries are quite cushy.

i can see it now:

roberts: hey, congress, we - the federal judges union local 1776 - demand 8% salary increases each year for the next three years.

congress: uh, you're funny. don't you have to write 16 pages of judicial nyquil? your opinions are so crushingly boring that with one read, you're out like a light! if you'll excuse us, we have to go back to making paper airplanes with copies of the patriot act extension.

roberts: screw you all! we're going on strike! we are going to wear our robes like togas and have an indefinite toga party until you give us our raise! BLACK TOGAS RULE!

and with that, judicial activism finally came to an end. :)