<P> Since the impeachment process requires a trial by the United States Senate , and since the constitutional provision concerning federal judges ' tenure can not be changed without the ratifications of three - fourths of the states , federal judges have perhaps the best job security available in the United States . Moreover , the Constitution forbids Congress to diminish a federal judge 's salary . Twentieth - century experience suggests that Congress is generally unwilling to take time out of its busy schedule to impeach and try a federal judge until , after criminal conviction , he or she is already in prison and still drawing a salary , which can not otherwise be taken away ( see Nixon v. United States , a key Supreme Court case about Congress 's discretion in impeaching and trying federal judges ) . </P>
<P> Since the impeachment process requires a trial by the United States Senate , and since the constitutional provision concerning federal judges ' tenure can not be changed without the ratifications of three - fourths of the states , federal judges have perhaps the best job security available in the United States . Moreover , the Constitution forbids Congress to diminish a federal judge 's salary . Twentieth - century experience suggests that Congress is generally unwilling to take time out of its busy schedule to impeach and try a federal judge until , after criminal conviction , he or she is already in prison and still drawing a salary , which can not otherwise be taken away ( see Nixon v. United States , a key Supreme Court case about Congress 's discretion in impeaching and trying federal judges ) . </P>
why can salaries for federal judges not be reduced by congress
why can salaries for federal judges not be reduced by congress
the Constitution forbids Congress to diminish a federal judge 's salary
the Constitution forbids Congress to diminish a federal judge 's salary