Judge Robert Collins of Louisiana, serving the second year of a 6 1/2-year sentence for taking a bribe from a drug smuggler, is still pulling down a $133,600-a-year salary.

Representative Charles Canady (R-FL) has initiated the impeachment process in the House, and Representative George Sangmeister (D-IL) has introduced a bill that would automatically suspend the salary of any judge convicted of a felony. Impeachment proceedings are notoriously long and difficult, however, and the Constitution prohibits slashing the pay of sitting federal judges.

Although taxpayers pay for his room and board while in prison, he still got the $4,100 cost-of-living salary increase given to all judges recently. And if Canady and Sangmeister don't manage to get Collins off the rolls by his 65th birthday, he will get a lifetime pension at full pay.

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