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 Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. Report an error