► Are the Federal Judges in Alaska overworked and underpaid? |
Are the Federal Judges in Alaska overworked and underpaid?
As of January 2011, there are a total of 13 judges sitting in Alaska (a) 3 full time judges, (b) 4 senior judges, and (c) 6 Magistrate judges.
For the year 2009, these 13 judges handled 150 criminal cases and 359 civil cases, which equates to an average of thirty-nine (39) cases per judge for an entire year.
For anyone to suggest that we (that’d be y’all overburdened taxpayers) should be required to dole out over $2 million in wages for 13 judges as set forth below doesn’t pass the involuntary laugh test.
The costs to the taxpayers for these 13 judges to handle 509 cases in 2009 were $4,279. Now let’s compare this so-called workload to that of the “general division” judges as follows:
Now, the enablers/apologists for the federal judiciary will attempt to make you believe that cases filed in federal courts are much more convoluted and time-consuming than those filed in state courts. This is nothing more than pure hyperbole (BS). A civil case for personal injury damages is the same whether adjudicated in state or federal court. The same is true of a criminal case!
As noted above, federal judges earned $174,000 in 2009 verses $121,350 paid to their counterparts in Ohio. Therefore, the judicial cost to the citizens of Ohio and Columbus per case in 2009 was $6.39 verses $4,279 in Alaska. Is that a bargain or what Boyz and Girls? Is Alaska a great country or what?
Unbelievably, Chief Justice Roberts actually believes that federal judges are entitled to a raise of at least 30%. If Congress were duped into agreeing with Roberts, the cost to taxpayers per case in Alaska would increase to at least $5,563 verses the average of $7.11 borne by the taxpayers in Columbus, Akron and Cleveland
To get a feel for how these so-called dedicated public servants have been screwing y’all, let’s review the records of the four (4) senior judges in Alaska, which is as follows:
Judge James Von der Heydt – State pension = $85,906 (ca. 2007)
DOB: 1919 – 92- years old
Appointed by LBJ in 1966
Assumed Senior Status (10 hour workweek) on July 15 1984 (37 years)
Judge James Fitzgerald
DOB: 1920 – 91 years old
Appointed by Gerald Ford in 1974
Assumed Senior Status (10 hour workweek) on Jan 1, 1989 (31 years)
Judge Russel Holland
DOB: 1936 – 75 years old
Appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1984
Assumed Senior Status (10 hour workweek) on Sept 18, 2001 (10 years)
Judge James Singleton – State pension = $98,512
DOB: 1939 – 72 years old
Appointed by George H.W. Bush inn 1990
Assumed Senior Status (10 hour workweek) on Jan 27, 2005 (7 years)
The above named public servants have spent eighty-five (85) years sucking on the public tit while working an average of ten (10) hours per week. In addition to their underserved federal salaries of $174,000 in 2009, Alaskans paid state pensions of $85,907 and $98,512 to Judges Von der Heydt and Singleton respectively.
Goshes and Gollies and Gee Whillickers isn’t it comforting to know that we’re being thoroughly hosed (actually screwed) by these so-called dedicated jurists?
With annual federal budget deficits of well over $1.5 trillion, maybe its time to send Von Der Heydt, et al packing, right?
I hear tell that the Wal-Mart located 8900 Old Seward Highway in Anchorage is always in need of greeters.
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