For several years, the American Judges Association has supported raising the retirement age for judges in the United States, and has particularly supported the efforts in New York.

The Brennan Center for Justice reports,

“A question on the New York state ballot this November will decide if the retirement age for state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges will be raised from 70 to 80, reports the Gotham Gazette.* “Advocates for the amendment – prime among them being the state’s Chief Judge, Jonathan Lippman, himself near the age limit to serve – say passing the measure could alleviate the state’s overloaded judicial system, where there is a backlog of some 31,000 cases in [the] state Supreme Court alone.” Some opponents of the law are concerned that Judge Lippman is pushing through his own term-limit extension, as this move would clearly benefit his seat on the Court of Appeals. “However, opponents of the measure have largely kept out of the spotlight because challenging New York’s chief judge is not considered a bright career move. Others say allowing older judges to stay on the bench will keep the higher positions on the court occupied by elderly white men, thereby discouraging diversity on the court.” If the ballot measure passes, New York would have the second highest retirement age in the nation; Vermont requires retirement at age 90.”

 

*In New York, the Court of Appeals is the highest appellate court in the state. The state Supreme Court is the state’s main trial court.