The upcoming governor’s race is going to usher in an epic battle over financing and funding the government, and lawyers and courts are going to feel the heat.

The National Center for State Courts just issued a comprehensive pay study of judges in every state court. To quote, “Connecticut general jurisdiction judges receive actual annual salaries of $167,634, or 17th highest in the nation … but when you figure in the cost of living, Connecticut ranks 47th” [fourth highest]. Golly! According to the Martindale-Hubbell attorney salary survey, small-firm lawyers realize an average of $198,000 in annual income with a median of $148,000. Big-firm lawyers make much more. Something seems wrong with this picture.