Should Judges Be Treated Like Other State Workers? [POLL]
You'll get to decide a ballot question on November 6th which will determine if judges indeed are an elite, set aside group or if they are the same as other state workers who have to contribute more towards their health benefits and pensions.
If you recall, the NJ Supreme Court recently decided that the wording of our state constitution means judges are exempt from such higher contributions. The governor responded with a push for a constitutional amendment.
If you find it evil that judges are considering themselves different from all other state workers, you'll find irony in the fact that the passage in the constitution in question is 666, article 6, section 6, paragraph 6. Take a look at the exact wording here:
6. The Justices of the Supreme Court and the Judges of the Superior Court shall receive for their services such salaries as may be provided by law, which shall not be diminished during the term of their appointment. They shall not, while in office, engage in the practice of law or other gainful pursuit.
Wouldn't you agree that salary and benefits are two different things? When your health contributions have gone up, you never told your friends and family that your salary was slashed. Judges' position on this issue reminds me of Orwell's Animal Farm, where the pigs try to rule over other animals with onerous laws they decide won't apply to themselves by simply adding "except pigs" at the end of each one.
What do you think? Take our poll below.