By law, judges can obtain outside income from a limited number of sources: book advances and royalties, investments, and education. The Judicial Code of Conduct specifically encourages teaching. Many judges have increased government salaries by giving classes at schools like Harvard, Duke and Notre Dame, but now he’s below $300,000.
But Scalia Law quickly took the lead, partly because it offered generous benefits. Judges Gorsuch and Kavanaugh each earned salaries approaching the statutory cap on certain outside incomes (about $30,000 in recent years) by generally teaching summer courses of up to two weeks.
The school also creates bespoke programs for judges in far-flung locations. Judge Gorsuch has traveled and taught in Iceland and Italy. Judge Kavanaugh teaches in England. During the first summer of the pandemic, both judges continued their classes, teaching at resorts across the state. (Judge Thomas is the only one who regularly teaches on campus, and his two ex-clerks are co-professors.)
Law school dean Ken Randall said in a statement, “When justice is with us, we do everything we can to bring justice to our students.” and their education is undoubtedly enhanced by the teaching, visiting and speaking of students by the judges.”
Sometimes the judge’s teachings intersect with his position in court.
Judges Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Thomas, despite a judicial advisory opinion (which the judges said they voluntarily comply with) that officials “should not assist in the conduct of activities requiring special compensation.” The Court regularly used its employees to coordinate external academic duties. received. “
