Times are tough for everyone these days. My income is way down from its glorified heights in 2006, before I started blogging. People have decided to pay me what I'm worth.But did you know that judges are suffering, too? Many are already forced to work part-time jobs teaching classes - sometimes in the middle of the workday - to supplement their meager, $161,850, annual salary. Northampton County's three senior judges only make $497 per day, on top of their pension, to do things like handling motions court so judges can "work" from their home offices or teach their classes or wait for the Cable guy.
How the hell can those poor guys afford a vacation home with a salary like that?
Two enterprizing Luzerne County judges did manage to augment their low wages with referral fees (called kickbacks) for sending kids to privately run juvenile detention facilities. Those little brats probably had it coming, but the feds have targeted these poor jurists in what is obviously a political persecution.
Enter Lord Chancellor Ronald Castille, the big mugmump running the state's supremes. He's really peeved that the state judiciary is only slated to receive a paltry $305 million next year. Why, that's the same sum they got last year. Doesn't anyone realize they're judges? Castille wants $30 million more. That's only a 10% increase.
Sure, many in the private sector are facing cuts. Some have even lost their jobs. But did they go to law school? Do they have to walk around in black dresses when it's hot? Do they have to pretend they're never angry? Worst of all, do they have to put up with lawyers?
Well, Governor Rendell is one of those bastard lawyers, and he's unwilling to give Castille a very modest 10% budget hike in the middle of a rescession. Go figure.
To put pressure on the Guv', Castille has come up with a judicial version of the blue flu, the black pack attack.
Citing the state judiciary's "precarious financial position," Castille has asked Rendell to hold off on appointments to judicial vacancies. Our Top Judge is also considering a case disposition slowdown, shutting down operations one day per week, consoldiating magisterial districts, and cutting staff, including a few judgeships here and there. I don't know whether he's considering asking the judges we do have to consider working 8-hour days. That might be asking too much.
Rendell has only been too happy to comply.
In the meantime, Castille blusters that legislators who refuse to give him what he wants are in violation of their sacred oaths to provide for the Courts. "They want to violate that oath, that's up to them. They may be paid back during the election process by the citizens."
"When they have a whole judgeship that's empty for a year and a half, they're going to realize the situation," huffs the High Man in Black.
If Lord Chancellor Castille thinks, for even a second, that his judicial blackmail will result in some sort of public clamor to lavish even more money on our jurists, he's been wearing that black robe in the sun just a little too often. Given the chance, voters are far more likely to kill a few judgeships.
In Northampton County, there are now nine judges, three senior judges and numerous masters to hear delinquency, dependency, custody, support, probation violations and committments. There's even a master to conduct settlement and status conferences on pending litigation. Do we really need that many?
So if His Excellency Castille is serious about making cuts in the judiciary, what directive has he provided to Northampton County jurists? That's a question Northampton County Council member John Cusick asked about two weeks ago. Thanks to a Right to Know request, I have a copy of Deputy Court Administrator Jill Cicero's answer:
"The Court's only knowlwdge if this initiative was gleaned from a newsletter sent by the Chief Justice. We have not received any formal notification from the Supreme Court or the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania to address this issue. Once we receive notification we will follow the direction of the Supreme Court and AOPC and will notify Council and the Executive."
In other words, Northampton County's Court has no intention of effecting any cost-savings measures, and if they ever decide to do so, it won't be at the request of Northampton County officials. In a meeting with Court officials last week, Council Prez Ron Angle was laughed out of their chambers when he asked them to make some cuts.
If Castille is really serious about this crisis, why has he failed to give Northampton County Courts any cost-saving directives?
15 comments:
As I recall Those two Luzerne County judges were busted, and sucessfully prosecuted by AG Tom Corbett! It is always good to see the mighty taken down when they go astray, just like us mortals.
Reminds me of Bill Platt huffing that Lehigh County didn't spend $500 million on the courthouse so he could have a suitable throne.
Get in the real world guys.
Judicial arrogance
Bernie-
Rather than comment on these despicable people, allow me to compliment you on your style. As usual, a well-written piece that is informative and funny.
VOR
Will Hizzoner Craig Dally stand up and be counted on this issue? After all, he was such a force to be reckoned with in the legislature.
Wasn't he?
"As I recall Those two Luzerne County judges were busted, and sucessfully prosecuted by AG Tom Corbett"
That's the US Att'y.
VOR, Flattery will get you everywhere. Thanks.
""As I recall Those two Luzerne County judges were busted, and sucessfully prosecuted by AG Tom Corbett"
That's the US Att'y."
That's right... corbett sat on his duff while the misconduct was going on. It took the feds work to clean up PA's mess.
Corbett was too busy reading Twitter and crying about critics to be actually doing his job.
A junior associate in a large Philadelphia firm makes 162K a year. Most of these judges could easily double that in practices in the Valley. Not that they do it for the money, but the measuring stick for paying people in these positions isn't comparing them to the guy bagging groceries at Giant but to compare them to their industries.
Also, I think its unfair to analogize what the Chief is doing to union slow downs. The judiciary found that it needed more funds, a budget increase isn't possible so he came up with cost containment measures. I have worked for AOPC and it is an exceedingly well run agency. Painting the judges with the slim from Luzerne isn't fair. Most judges are of ourstanding moral character.
As for it not yet coming down to NORCO, didn't all of this just come out a few weeks ago. My understanding was that those matters were "in discussion".
My point is that there is much greater waste in state and local government than the judiciary.
I agree most judges are outstanding individuals on a personal level, but they do operate in an environment where it is very easy for them to engage in precisely what has happened in Luzerne. What's amazing is that the corruptioon is not more widespread.
As for the salaries, I am well aware of the market. I can tell you that most of these guys are stepping up beyond what they would be making in the private sector for the amount of work done. Do you really think Paula Roscioli was pulling down $300k? That's nonsense.
As for Lord Chancellor Castille, he made very clear that he is pulling a slowdown to pressure legislatures. That's exactly what cops and firemen do when they don't get enough money.
I agree there is greater weaste in other areas, but we need to be looking at it everywhere. In NC, we don't need 9 judges, 3 senior judges and the many masters that currently exist. We need judges who are willing to work. We have a few that do. We have a few that don't.
"Do you really think Paula Roscioli was pulling down $300k? That's nonsense."
As an ADA, no way. As a criminal defense attorney doing capital murder trials? Unquestionably. If I had the time, I would pull the stats.
At least the vast majority of the judges would be at senior partner level in a private practice. Roscili and Kourey may be the two exceptions (given age) but even they would be doing pretty well.
Judges who think they are worth more, because they can get it in the private sector, should go. They knew the paygrade when they ran, and they ran anyway. Smells just like the teachers. They get the job, and then bitch because the greedy public just doesn't understand their true value, and needs to stop being so selfish.
I bet you we will survive if one of them, or all of them resign.
Well- judges ran for the job.--Then complain they do not make enough money??? Quit then. Go back to actually putting in a full day every day and more. Our judges are off most of the time. They never show up unless they have to be in court. They come in late and leave early and basically are a no show most non court scheduled days which is 90% of the time. Just take a few months ,, walk around the courthouse and check courtrooms-- no one is in them 90% of the time. Judges have offices that they are rarely in.
Judges are lawyers with political pull. Stop the dramatic nonsense about how much money they could make in the private market. If they could that is what they would do.
The fact is most judges are lawyers who would be busting their humps to make a living. That is why they go for a job for life seat. They are all decent folks but the facts are the facts.
I don't blame them, Hell, I envy them. Please let us at least be honest. Not a one of the local judges would be tripping the seven figure mark in private practice.
Next to tenured college professors they have the best jobs in the world and they know it. Why the Hell do you think they run in droves whenever a vacancy comes up.
The Tock
I think Zito and Smith could both be pulling down a lot more money in private practice, but generally agree with everything you say here. I think I need to lie down now.
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