The Price of the Robe, Too Little or Too Much?
In my relatively new legal career I have only had one opportunity to argue in front of a federal court judge and I remember the experience vividly. That being said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when I saw his picture in the news recently it grabbed my attention. However, after reading the article I realized that the first time I had argued in front of Judge Stephen G. Larson would also be my last. Judge Larson has announced that he will be stepping down on November 2, 2009 to enter the private practice.
The reason for this move…the $169,000 salary.
Judge Larson is one of a number of judges from the Central District of California to step down for financial reasons. From 1998 to August 2009, seven federal district court judges have stepped down for higher pay.Some even stepping down to state judicial positions, which apparently consist of a higher salary.
Although his salary may seem pretty high compared to what the average Californian makes, in the legal world, not so much. I have friends and colleagues who were getting paid the same if not more than that in their first and second years out of law school. Some, ironically, from firms like O’Melveny & Myers, where Judge Larson started his legal career at.
It seems that the prestige and honor that comes with being appointed a District Court judge sometimes fades when the reality of the monetary value put on that appointment kicks in. It seems to beg the question of whether this would deter people who otherwise would be wonderful assets to the bench from ending up there, or in the alternative, remaining there.
