United States federal judge

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

A United States federal judge is a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article III of the United States Constitution.

While judges of some courts with special jurisdictions, including bankruptcy judges, are also sometimes referred to as "federal judges", they are not judges in the sense in which the term is used in Article III. The distinction is sometimes expressed by saying that they are not "Article III judges," because the power of these other kinds of federal judges does not derive from Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

In addition to the United States Supreme Court, whose existence and some aspects of whose jurisdiction are beyond the Constitutional power of Congress to alter, acts of Congress have established 13 courts of appeals (also called "circuit courts") with appellate jurisdiction over different regions of the United States, and 94 United States district courts. Every judge presiding over such a court falls within the category of federal judges, from the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court to the judges of the United States district courts.

[edit] Tenure and salary

"Article III federal judges" (as opposed to judges of some courts with special jurisdictions) serve "during good behavior". They cannot be removed from office except by impeachment by the House of Representatives followed by conviction by the Senate. Often this is expressed by saying they are appointed "for life". They hold their seats until they resign, die, or are impeached and convicted.

Since the impeachment process requires a trial by the United States Senate, and since the Constitutional provision concerning federal judges' tenure cannot be changed without the ratifications of three-fourths of the (now 50) states, federal judges have the best job security available in the United States. Moreover, the Constitution forbids Congress to diminish a federal judge's salary. 20th-century experience suggests that Congress is not willing to take time out of its busy schedule to impeach a federal judge until, after criminal conviction, the judge is in prison and still drawing his judge's salary, which cannot otherwise be taken away.

As of 2001, federal trial judges were paid $145,100 a year, appellate judges $153,900, associate Supreme Court justices $178,300 and the chief justice $186,300. All were permitted to earn an additional $21,000 a year for teaching. [1]

The judges of the courts mentioned above with special jurisdictions—"non-Article III judges"— are appointed for specified terms by the administrative bodies of the federal judiciary.

[edit] See also

• Federal judicial appointment history

[edit] External link

• U.S. Courts FAQ