Final answer:
Federal judges have life tenure and protected salaries to maintain a strong independent judiciary, free from political pressure and financial manipulation, thus ensuring that they can uphold the Constitution and individual rights without bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federal judges have life tenure and protected salaries to ensure an independent judiciary, which is crucial for the fair administration of justice. Article III of the U.S. Constitution states federal judges "shall hold their offices during good Behavior," granting them the ability to serve for life, barring impeachment. This provision was included by the framers to safeguard judges from undue political influence and to uphold the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government capable of checking the powers of the executive and legislative branches. Moreover, to prevent financial manipulation, the Constitution stipulates that federal judges’ salaries cannot be reduced while they remain in office, further protecting their independence.
The U.S. judicial system is designed to protect individual rights and the sanctity of the U.S. Constitution, and the life tenure and salary protections play a significant role in facilitating these goals. Confirmations of federal judges, including the Supreme Court Justices, often pass through intensive scrutiny in order to preserve the nonpartisan nature of the judiciary, a process exemplified during the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh.