The latest Judicial Attitudes Survey reveals that loss of earnings, deteriorating working conditions and fears for their personal safety in court are among the most critical factors affecting potential early retirement.

It is clear from the survey that, while judges believe they play an important role in society and are fiercely committed to their posts, morale has declined dramatically since the last survey two years ago.

Low morale

Some 42 per cent of all judges said they would leave if they had a viable alternative option, compared with less than a quarter in 2014.

More than a third (36 per cent) of salaried judges said they may consider leaving the judiciary early over the next five years.

Low pay

Judges feel poorly financially rewarded, according to the research with 74 per cent feeling their earnings ‘do not adequately reflect the work they have done’.

A high court judge earns around £180,000 a year, and a crown court judge £134,000. There was a four-year freeze in judicial pay from 2009 to 2013, followed by three years of increases of 1 per cent per annum.

A staggering 78 per cent of salaried judges surveyed said they had experienced a loss of net earnings over the past two years, 62 per cent affected by pension changes.

The latest survey, coordinated by Prof Cheryl Thomas, co-director of the Judicial Institute at University College London, was carried out to assist the Senior Salaries Review Body, which makes recommendations to the government annually on pay. As many as 99 per cent of all salaried judges in England and Wales courts and UK non-devolved tribunals took part in the research.