Bill Introduced to Eliminate 75 Year Old Retirement Age for Indiana Appellate Judges

Sen.. Jim Buck

Republican Senator Jim Buck has introduced Senate Bill 124 to eliminate the mandatory 75 year old retirement age for Indiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges. 

That is a change I enthusiastically support.  When I clerked for Judge Paul Buchanan on the Court of Appeals, he was forced into retirement at 75.  To the very end his mind was as sharp as a tack. I always thought that was unfair that he was forced to retire from the job he loved so much at 75.

As far as the Indiana Supreme Court goes, Justices Brent Dickson (71), Robert Rucker (65), Steven David (55), Loretta Rush (54) and Mark Massa (52) are all below the 75 year old mandatory retirement age.

For the record, the 75 year old retirement rule, if applied to the U.S. Supreme Court, would require the retirement of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg (79), Antonin Scalia (76), and Anthony Kennedy (74).  It would also require the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer (74) later this year. Of course, federal judges have lifetime tenures.