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I don't think the constitutional argument used to defeat the Geddes axe in the 30's cut much ice in this appeal.

The government has effectively and significantly cut judicial pay by a combination of extending the austerity pay pause for judges and unchallenged pension changes. This - together with a contemptuous disregard for judicial morale - is why the bench is no longer a career change of choice.

As an aside by my rough calculation 15-25% of recent CJ appointments have come from the DJ bench. There were 116 vacancies.