US | John Roberts Federal Judges Need Higher Pay: Roberts Chief justice renews warning against judicial brain drain By Nick McMaster Posted Jan 1, 2008 3:25 PM CST Copied Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, talks to President of BYU, Cecil O. Samuelson, right, before speaking at a university forum at Brigham Young University, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/ George Frey) (Associated Press) Chief Justice John Roberts called for a pay raise for federal judges today in his year-end report on the judicial system, the Washington Post reports. This marks the second straight year that Roberts advocated for higher judicial salaries, and he praised the tentative plan Congress has put forth, calling it "vital legislation." Roberts opposes the existing link between judicial and congressional pay, which he says has caused an erosion of judges' salaries to the point where they compare, sometimes unfavorably, to those of “first-year lawyers at firms in major cities.” Roberts used the remainder of his report to call for greater cooperation between the three branches of government. Read These Next Colorado wants to give 'peace of mind' on Hunter S. Thompson. Hiker lost for days in Idaho had no pants or shoes. Bad news for the famous 'Nirvana baby.' Elon Musk just reached a major money milestone. Report an error