State Supreme Court Justice Robert Julian: “Help, I’m Being Ravaged!”

State Supreme Court Justice Robert Julian is resigning because the state refuses to raise state judges pay. The Justice makes $137,000 per year and claims that judges “have forsaken their law practice to engage in public service only to be pummeled by the ravages of inflation.” Mr. Julian hasn’t received a pay raise since he was elected to the State Supreme Court bench seven years ago.

I’m having a hard time sympathizing with Mr. Julian. Yes, state judges deserve to have their compensation reviewed and increased where merited. Yes, the state legislators have turned judicial pay raises into a political football.What is irritating is that Julian ran for the judgeship knowing the respective pay rates of a private legal practice and a public servant. You become a judge for reasons other than the money. Complaining about a six-figure income is unseemly and unprofessional.  Try asking the folks thrown out of work at Pennie Curtis bakery or the folks being laid off at New Process Gear if they could get by on $136,700.

I also work at a job where no one in our organization has gotten a raise in many years. We are a small non-profit and have seen our budget drop by 38% in the past 5 years. I wish that my work could be recognized with an increase in pay that I believe I deserve.  But I know that our organization cannot afford it.  I also know that I went into community organizing for reasons other than money.  So I make do. (and I don’t make anywhere near $136,700!)

Times are tough Mr. Julian. Suck it up or scurry back to your comfortable billable hours and country-club lifestyle. Just don’t make yourself out to be a martyr.