why do judges make more than the teachers?

Question

isn't education more important than locking up someone?

Answer 1

Because judges are lawyers with fancier robes.

Answer 2

I agree that teachers should be paid more than they are. But, unlike with many teaching positions, being a judge requires that the person have an advanced degree -- a j.d. I don't think most teachers (at least at the non-university level) are required to have more than a college education. Also, the fact is that our society, for better or worse, places a higher value on legal work. Recently, in my city, many of the big law firms raised the starting salary for first-year lawyers (that is, lawyers who just graduated from law school) to $160,000/year. That is only about $5,000 less than the current $165,200/year salary for federal district judges -- who are expected to have (and almost always do have) years of legal experience. I think judges actually have a pretty good argument that they are underpaid.

Answer 3

Education is more important but supply and demand comes into play here. It takes years of work beyond law school to become a judge and there is plenty of demand for judges. Small number of judges plus lots of work means judges get paid a lot. On the other hand, elementary school teachers are a dime a dozen. Hundreds could apply for one position. Lots of teachers with few jobs means teachers get paid very little.

Answer 4

Education is a massive responsibility.

However, a judge must have been a lawyer. For a lawyer to accept such a promotion, there must be a pay rise involved.

Lawyers are paid a lot because there are not many of them. This is because it very difficult to become a lawyer. Only a small percentage of the population have the high level reasoning skills to argue a case well and the long term memory to remember so many details of the law and hundreds of past cases.

Answer 5

(1) Judges can be teachers, that is, in their own fields.
(2) Teachers can't be judges.
(3) Judges don't just "lock up someone"...
(4) There are different levels of "teachers", which one do you refer to?

For example, it takes a lot more to be a judge than a K-4 teacher. However, it takes roughly equal amount of effort (if not more) to be a graduate school professor.

Answer 6

Why should anyone else make more than the teachers? Could it be that the United States of America just don't give a hoot about proper education for the future leaders? George W. Bush must be well ahead of his time.

Answer 7

Sure..but in a county there are maybe 5-50 judges....and teachers 150 to 500? Sheer numbers....are you willing to pay higher taxes....I always said teachers need to be paid more but no one wants to pay more taxes to make this happen...and besides judges do a lot more than "lock people up"

Answer 8

Although they are both very important jobs, I feel that of all the occupations in this country, Teachers are the most underpaid. My daughter-in-law is a teacher and she puts her heart and soul into her work and her pupils. Its a shame that in this country, you get more to play baseball, act in a movie, or even truck drivers. In Florida, this up-coming year they have even eliminated the teaching assistants. I fear that our young people will chose other occupations simple because of the fact that it takes them years to repay student loans and they do not receive the respect that they should be receiving for teaching our future leaders. Thanks for letting me vent. Good question by the way.

Answer 9

Quite frankly, Judges work many many many more hours. Judges have a much more difficult and demanding job as well. Teachers these days are just overpaid babysitters. (By the way, it's not their fault, it's the parent's fault!)

Answer 10

It's a really stupid system we have. There is no position in the US that you can get without having been taught in school but the teachers aren't paid squat. They should be paid the most for their knowledge.

Answer 11

teachers are either paid a salary or an hourly wage. judges can legally steal you blind and most of them do. i have been in court more times than perry mason. the judge will sell you the rope.