The Price of Justice

To offend and judge are distinct offices, and of opposed natures.
William Shakespeare

Even before Boss Tweed, corruption never came cheap here in Gotham. A couple years ago, a trial court judge allegedly paid $50,000 for his seat. This week, after the conviction of political fixer Clarence Norman for various election law violations, the Brooklyn D.A. is investigating a couple other "sales." One judge is rumored to have complained that he had to pay $100,000.

Let's assume that a New York judgeship costs the average: $75,000. Here in NYC, if you want to own a taxi and not lease it for an exhorbitant rate, you have to buy your own medallion for the hood. These are auctioned and usually go for somewhere between $200,000 and $250,000.

So how come a judgeship goes for only a third of what a taxi medallion does? We have a mayor who bought his seat and paid $69 million. Obviously, if judgeships cost more, we'd have better judges and better justice! Time to write to Pataki.

tags: new york city clarence norman

Comments

[mandt]

Jeesz! That's nothing, here in Sonoma County CA judges are so cheap, you can by them at a Wal-Mart discount. M

[blogenfreude]

Start saving up ...