The state Assembly yesterday passed legislation to amend the state Constitution and raise the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges. Currently, Court of Appeals judges must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70. Supreme Court judges also have to retire at 70, but unlike their higher court colleagues can be certified for three two-year extensions, allowing them to remain on the bench until 76.
The legislation, A.4395, sponsored by Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Helene Weinstein, D-Brooklyn, would increase the retirement age for the Court of Appeals to 80. It would also allow Supreme Court justices to be certified until 80. However, it would retain a provision requiring the election of new judges when the incumbent turns 70. "As our life expectancy continues to grow, mandating that judges retire at the age of 70 has become obsolete and consequently wastes the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that comes from years of experience," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, said in a statement. "This prudent piece of legislation seeks to update our state’s Constitution to ensure that our courts continue to benefit from the service of our many dedicated, experienced and productive judges."
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]