The tale of a judge and his protest beard
…and an update on the New York judicial pay raise watch
Salaries for New York judges have been capped at $136,700 for the past ten years. We reported on their attempt to force a raise by suing the New York legislature. New York Supreme Court justice Edward Lehner ruled in favor of mo’ money in June and gave the legislature 90 days to up their pay.
The state’s chief judge, Judith Kaye, was the force behind the lawsuit. But a lesser-known judge, Philip Straniere, of Staten Island, did his part to support the movement. He grew a big, bushy protest beard. He’s been wearing it for the last 14 months.
Unfortunately for cash-strapped New York judges, neither the beard nor lawsuit have done the trick as of yet. According to the New York Law Journal, New York Governor David Paterson has appealed Lehner’s decision. The judges’ brief defending Lehner’s decision is due Friday, with argument scheduled for November.
Straniere has not given up the protest, but he has given up the beard, in order to look less like Father Christmas while he runs for a state Supreme Court judgeship. His shave made the news. From the Staten Island Advance:
Straniere scores points for his Family Guy reference with a shout-out to Peter Griffin’s bird-infested growth. Negative points for the barber for butchering Straniere’s chin.
Paterson Seeks Reversal of Order to Boost Judges’ Pay [New York Law Journal]
Shave and a haircut (not pictured) [Staten Island Advance]
Earlier: Judicial Pay Raise Watch: New York
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Comments
snypah
I hope I can get a job as an lolcat. My mail merge isn't producing the desired results. I'm SO nervous about landing a summer associate position....
~really nervous T-14 1L
#2 - Go GULC yourself to death.
Triggy Trig What What?
Dechert??
Cravath's Ass?
2-
You can apply for a job with us. But I have to warn you the competition is tough and adorable.
-lolcat recruiting coordinator
I haven't been able to find a job yet and I graduated in 2007.
~ depressed lolcat
this post isn't worthy of a comment
The barber butchered that dude. Blood was running down his chin at the end.
I am so tired of these whining judges. If they want to make more money, why don't they just quit and shut up about it? Also, let me get this straight, the people that are going to decide this lawsuit are going to be the ones who potentially are going to directly benefit from it? How is this not a conflict of interest?
I'm a maverick!
~ Sarah "Maverick" Palin
I will make sure to aim for every cat I see today on my drive home.
T. Palin
Poor impoverished NY judges.
Kash,
Way to Elie this post up. It sucked.
Amazing how quickly the number of comments is declining. I'm gonna be really lonely here soon.
Seriously? Is Elie really going to pretend he didn't have his ass handed to him by the commentators in the Dechert thread? Is he going to ignore the Dechert situation and have Kash write all the posts from now on?
Looks like that cat has PEANUTS and CHEESE all caught up in that nasty beard of his! And EDAMAME, too!
Judge Dredd was the best movie ever!
What's happenin' at Dechert.
Did anyone notice that the barber was not wearing plastic gloves?
ANNOUNCEMENT: i will grow a beard until a get a paid 1L sa position!
-nervous T-10 1L
*latex*
-19
Hi 18, see here: http://abovethelaw.com/2008/10/dechert_layoff_exaggeration_but_caution.php
I used to work for this judge's brother.
It's the Staten Island ADVANCE, by the way.
jeez all that gray hair on his face, imagine what it looks like in his crotch
jeez all that gray hair on his face, imagine what it looks like in his crotch
The biggest problem with the lawsuit, and with this issue generally, is that for the majority of the state, the current salary allows you to live a very nice upper middle class (bordering on upper class) lifestyle, and for many fewer hours than a comparable paying job in the private sector.
The newspaper is the Staten Island ADVANCE, not the Advocate.
Come on.
Gov Patterson could have shaved him better
27 is right. I've lived in three biggest Upstate Cities and 150K, plus benefits and a PENSION is a king's ransom. Maybe a cost of living for Manhattan might be appropriate but there is no way a judge in Onondaga County needs to make 5 times more than the lawyers appearing before him.
27 is right. I've lived in three biggest Upstate Cities and 150K, plus benefits and a PENSION is a king's ransom. Maybe a cost of living for Manhattan might be appropriate but there is no way a judge in Onondaga County needs to make 5 times more than the lawyers appearing before him.
yay for Staten Island making ATL!!!
haha dont bash.
29=hilarious
Thanks, abovethelaw...
Nutty enough for Nuts in NY.
http://www.nutsinny.com/all-nuts/soup-to-nuts-week-before-halloween-nutty-bits
David @ NINY