INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson and other appellate court judges may get more time in their positions if a proposed Senate bill is adopted during this General Assembly.
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson – shown here after his election to chief justice – could serve beyond 75 under legislation introduced in the Senate. The bill would eliminate a mandatory retirement age of 75 for all appellate judges.
Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson – shown here after his election to chief justice – could serve beyond 75 under legislation introduced in the Senate. The bill would eliminate a mandatory retirement age of 75 for all appellate judges.
Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, authored and introduced a bill that would erase state provisions that force Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges in Indiana to retire at the age of 75.
“Our U.S. Supreme Court has no age limit. At one time, creating a particular age limit met actually with the life expectancy,” Buck said. “But now you have people that live much, much longer, have very sharp minds and are a treasure trove literally for the bench.”
Senate Bill 124 could enable 71-year-old Chief Justice Brent Dickson to keep his position past 2016 – if he wanted to. Dickson – who only became chief justice last year – didn’t request the legislation and Buck said he didn’t offer it with Dickson in mind.
A spokeswoman for the Indiana Supreme Court judges, Kathryn Dolan, said justices don’t comment on pending legislation. But she said they’d abide by legislation if passed.
Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia have age limit provisions for their judges.
In Pennsylvania, six judges have filed a lawsuit against the mandatory retirement age as they claim the provision is discriminatory and unlawful.
Buck’s proposed bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.
0 comments
