A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:Since the pandemic started, my husband has told me how he wants to quit his job and become a judge; he claims "No need to work from home, no annoying office politics, good pay, interesting job."He then went on to say "It's well-paid, compared to my job, and I'm not changing because it's a dream job but it'll be better than working for a firm with a boss who constantly makes jokes about me being Mexican-American and co-workers who make gay jokes about me and claim I'm a gay man who's got a beard".My husband isn't gay, and told me he's tired of the gay jokes and racism and his boss doesn't give two hoots, claiming "I ain't the guy for this!"We've got two kids aged 8 and 13 and both of us work from home.He says he really HAS to quit, and that his job of 6 years is no longer that fulfilling, even before the pandemic it was making him miserable and the pay isn't good.I asked him why he wanted to be a judge, and he was insisting "More pay than an office worker, and sure, loads of paperwork, but what guy hasn't? Plus, it's a good job, well-respected.".Unfortunately, the job he wants, we have to move state for; we live in Minnesota and he wants to move to California. I'm not against moving (we moved from Texas for my job due to my employer offering a good package for a role change); but worried more about the practicalities. He was quite happy about the move and our kids are settled here. (The kids were young when we moved).I'm not against him wanting to change job if he hates his current one, but with coronavirus, how will he be able to do his new job etc. if trials don't go ahead etc.?He told me how he wants to quit his job and work both as a judge and at McDonald's at night just so he's getting enough; I can't blame him for being driven, but am worried about the stress of doing both jobs simultaneously. (Forgive me if I'm wrong... but you can't be a judge and work in McDonald's at the same time without major stress??).I love my husband and want the best for him but I worry he hasn't quite thought this through, being only driven by money.
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reader, anonymous, writes (4 September 2020): I question the authenticity of this post. People don't just up and decide to drop everything and become a judge. It's a carefully considered and executed process. He can have aspirations and start working his way up to it. Not just up and move his family on a whim.
As our legal system is structured, it would be very difficult to file a discrimination or sexual-harassment suit against his own law firm. That explains why they would be so blatant and unethical. If any of what you've posted is true. He should find another job, leaving without a job waiting for him with kids to feed and support is reckless and not well planned.
I might also add that the bar exam in California is one of the hardest in the country! If he has a jurist doctorate, passes the bar exam in the state he practices law, has been practicing law for a considerable amount of time, preferably as a prosecutor or defense attorney; he may have all the qualifications. It's not as simple as pulling-up your roots, moving to another state, putting on a judge's robe, and slamming a gavel. But working at McDonald's at night?!!
I know sometimes people pull our leg, and don't take us seriously. We get rascals and trolls all the time. This borders on the questionable.
A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (4 September 2020):
 I cannot believe this is a real question !
If it is , your husband is either extremely misinformed or extremely optimistic- to a quite dangerous extent.
You don't just up and " become a judge " as quick as you'd send your CV for a post as Home Depot clerk.
Being a judge entails extensive education and training.
First , you have to have a bachelor's degree. Ok, let's assume your husband already has this- fine.
Then, though, he needs to take the LSAT, attend Law School and earn a Juris Doctorate. ( That's mandatory and I exclude
" your husband " has one, - then what would he be doing penpushing from home in a low paid clerical job ? ) Then he needs to pass the bar exam, then practice law for at least two years, and then earn his judgeship. Either by election, or by temporary appointment, or appointed by executives, such the Governor of a State.
It is a process which takes years , often decades. 7 years of schooling after high school, and then at least a few years trying cases. It's not uncommon for lawyers to earn a judgeship after decades of trial experience.
But suppose that for some strange reason your husband could skip all the normal steps and could be a judge right now, or in a few months. Then he'd be a fool to leave Minnesota , because for some weird reason ( don't ask me why, but feel free to check ) the average pay of a judge in Minnesota is approx. 157.000 $ , while in California is
less, around 131.000 or so. Better stay put :).
Then again, as you see , - wherever he worked as a judge... surely he would not need to flip burgers to make ends meet ,lol !
OTH, if he left his job today to start his path toward judgeship.... then he has a long, long time as McDonald 's employee to look forward to...
In short : 99% I am sure this is a post only written to kill time or to get attention. But since people are strange, as Jim Morrison would say, and some times they come up with the weirdest plans and schemes, in the 1% chance there IS a husband , and father of two, who dreams of starting a top level legal field career at the tender age of 40 or so.... tell him no, OP. If he really does not mind taking a second job at McDonald's... tell him to accept one , but for sending HIS KIDS to Law School.
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A
male
reader, kenny  + ♥, writes (4 September 2020):
 I think sometimes we don't think things through properly, and leave a perfectly good well paid job, and leave to go somewhere else, only a few months down the line regret making the decision.
He could be cutting of his nose to spite his face. you see the grass isen't always greener on the other side.
I'm all for bettering yourself, but I feel with the way the economy is right now, and the pandemic, coupled with the fact that he has a wife and young children, and bills to pay I think its a risky venture for him to make.
Does he realise that it will be a lenthy time studying to become a judge at university, then working at Mcdonalds in the evenings, where is he ever going to find the time for you, and his children.
I feel the idea he has got now would maybe have been better if he thought of it ten year's ago. He could leave his job, try to do what he is saying, be a judge, work at Mcdonalds, then if it never worked out all the bills and paying for everything else could very well fall on your shoulders. Falling back into a job as good as the one has got now might be a rather tall order.
There are time's where we all feel like walking out of our jobs, me too sometimes. But like most people I have a mortgage to pay for, and bills to pay. So unless I knew the next job I was going to had the same securities and was a permanent position I would be a fool to leave at this time, especially during these difficult times. I think to have a good well payed job at the moment we should think ourselves lucky, because many are not that lucky.
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