Judges: Balancing the Scales

It is unquestionably an honor to be named a judge. But it is often an honor without much monetary reward—a state of affairs that has prompted recurrent criticism from the 35,000-member American Judicature Society. Now, in its biennial survey, the society finds that Justice's scales of salary are at last coming closer to financial balance.

General trial court judges in the 50 states now average $20,620 annually, while those sitting on state appeals courts are paid $27,500. The first figure is up 7.4% from 1966, the second is up 12%. But the picture is not all green. Judges in the lowest courts (misdemeanor, small claims, etc.) still get "grossly inadequate salaries," says the society. In Arkansas, for example, the maximum for such judges is $5,900. But by and large, the society is pleased with the improved paychecks—even though it could not resist observing that the median net income of U.S. doctors has risen to $31,160, more than the salary of all but a handful of judges.