The federal judiciary is revered in the legal world and stands as a testament to the virtues of our system of justice. As with any institution, its reputation is a function of the professionalism, intelligence, and hard work of its past and current members. Nominees for federal judgeships go through a rigorous vetting process,1 which to date has yielded an exceptionally qualified judiciary. Unfortunately, Congress has not treated federal judges with the dignity that they deserve when it comes to salary considerations. Judicial pay has not increased commensurate with that of other federal employees, nor kept up with inflation.