George Hazel and Gregg Costa had yet to turn 40 when former President Barack Obama nominated the lawyers to become federal judges.
The appointmentsHazel to a federal court in Maryland and Costa in Texaswere part of an emerging trend, as the Obama administration looked to tap younger judges for lifetime roles that could secure their seats for a generation. Roughly a decade later, Hazel and Costa opted for another path: they recently left their roles for lucrative partnerships at elite law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.
Hazel, now a 47-year-old father of two, said he was ready for another act as a lawyer, not to mention the pay boost that comes with it. Gibson Dunn reported more than $4.4 million in profits per equity partner last year.
When you get on the bench at 51, depending on your career path maybe youve had the time to bank away some money, said Hazel, who joined Gibson Dunn this month. But the shift toward appointing younger judges, continued in the Trump and Biden administration, is definitely going to make it more likely that people might consider something else, he added.
Hazel and Costa, now 50, are among five Obama appointees who since August have resigned or announced their intent to leave the bench. All five judges joined their courts at 45 or younger, highlighting a potential downside to the youth movement.
The Biden White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. ... Federal district judges will make just under $233,000 this year, while appeals judges will make more than $246,000, according to the US Courts website.
At major law firms like Gibson Dunn and Latham & Watkins, first-year associatestypically fresh out of law schoolnow command as much as $235,000 in salaries and bonuses. Equity partner profits have in recent years surpassed $4 million on average at those and other firms.