Chief Justice John Roberts Skips Pay Raise Request This Year

ABC News' Ariane de Vogue reports: In his annual year end message regarding the state of the federal judiciary Chief Justice John Roberts declined to address an issue he has considered urgent in year's past: judicial pay.

Citing "difficult issues" faced by the political branches and the fact that "fellow citizens" have been "touched by hardship" the Chief released an unusually short report and declined to touch on the needs of the judiciary. Instead he wrote: "The courts are operating soundly, and the nation's dedicated federal judges are conscientiously discharging their duties."

In years past, the Chief has used strong language at times to suggest that federal judges were not being adequately compensated for their work.  In 2006 he wrote that the problem had "reached the level of a constitutional crisis that threatens to undermine the strength and independence of the federal judiciary." That particular report drew criticism from some who believe that there was no evidence that salaries were too low to attract qualified judges. In 2008, according to the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, circuit judges received $179,500 in pay. The Chief Justice's salary was set at $217, 400.