Will judges, upset about recent pay freezes, start fleeing the bench for higher-paying law firm jobs?
Texas State District Judge Len Wade is stepping down from the civil court bench to join Kelly Hart & Hallman’s mediation & arbitration practice.
Wade informed Governor Rick Perry that he is leaving to earn more money, having three college-age children to support. He earns about $140,000 a year as a judge.
First elected in 2002, Wade, 47, would have been up for a third term in 2010. The governor will appoint someone to complete his four-year term.
Wade handled several complicated and controversial cases during his tenure, including the lawsuits against the Fort Worth Catholic Diocese concerning priests accused of abusing children.
Kelly Hart has offices in Austin, Fort Worth and Houston.