Why do you think the colonists were unhappy with the fact that their judges' salaries were paid by the king?
Answer (3)
Colonists were unhappy with the fact that their judges' salaries were paid by the king because of the fact that they felt this might compromise the bias of the judges. If the king is in charge of the judges' money it is likely that this might result in the monarchy and those associated with the monarchy receiving an unfair amount of favour.
The colonists were unhappy with the fact that judges' salaries were paid by the king because it meant that these key legal figures might prioritize the desires of the monarch over the interests and rights of the colonists. The colonists believed that by having the capability to pay the governors and judges themselves, they could exert some control or influence over these officials, maintaining a balance of power and a safeguard against tyranny. The imposition of taxes to pay British officials in the colonies would eliminate this 'power of the purse,' effectively removing the colonial legislatures' leverage over royal appointees and could lead to unchecked authority that favored British interests over colonial autonomy.
Furthermore, this arrangement was viewed by the colonists as an infringement on their rights as British citizens because they did not have representatives in Parliament ('no taxation without representation'). This sentiment also extended to other acts, such as the Quartering Act, where the colonists had to bear the expense and imposition of housing British soldiers. All these impositions, along with the exclusion of juries in Vice-Admiralty courts, only heightened the sense of being subjected to laws and systems that did not take their views into account, laying the groundwork for the American Revolution.
Colonists were unhappy that judges' salaries were paid by the king because it compromised the judges' impartiality, limited colonial influence on local governance, and contributed to a sense of disconnect between the colonists and their judges. This issue symbolized larger grievances against royal authority that eventually fueled the desire for independence. The payment system eroded trust in legal decisions and strengthened the call for self-governance.
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