Lawmaker supports issue to raise age limit on judges
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To the editor:
House Joint Resolution 1, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly this June, asks Ohio voters whether the mandatory age of retirement should be changed from 70 to 75. During the past several weeks, I have been asked by several constituents why this change is needed and why I voted to have this question before Ohio voters in the November 8th General Election.
Currently, in the Ohio Constitution Article IV Section 6 paragraph C, it states: “No person shall be elected or appointed to any judicial office if on or before the day when he shall assume the office and enter upon the discharge of its duties he shall have attained the age of 70 years.” This section has not been amended since 1973.
Judges are the only elected officials in Ohio that have a mandatory age of retirement set by the Ohio Constitution. The majority of other states already have age limits higher than 70 or no mandatory age limit on retirement.
Some may argue that a specified mandatory age of retirement is arbitrary, as there was no reason why 70 was selected in 1973. I have been asked by others why have an age limit at all? For nearly 38 years, this age limit has not been changed by Ohio’s voters. I believe that now is the time to approach this subject
Of course, changing the age of retirement does not guarantee that a judge automatically gets to continue his/her career, as Ohio voters will have the final say whether a judge deserves another term or not. This proposal simply gives more experienced judges the option to continue serving our great state.
It only makes sense that this age limit be increased. In this day and age, many people work into their 70s. Ohio judges that are experienced and competent should have the same opportunity to work for the citizens of Ohio.
Sincerely,
State Representative John Carey
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215[[In-content Ad]]
House Joint Resolution 1, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly this June, asks Ohio voters whether the mandatory age of retirement should be changed from 70 to 75. During the past several weeks, I have been asked by several constituents why this change is needed and why I voted to have this question before Ohio voters in the November 8th General Election.
Currently, in the Ohio Constitution Article IV Section 6 paragraph C, it states: “No person shall be elected or appointed to any judicial office if on or before the day when he shall assume the office and enter upon the discharge of its duties he shall have attained the age of 70 years.” This section has not been amended since 1973.
Judges are the only elected officials in Ohio that have a mandatory age of retirement set by the Ohio Constitution. The majority of other states already have age limits higher than 70 or no mandatory age limit on retirement.
Some may argue that a specified mandatory age of retirement is arbitrary, as there was no reason why 70 was selected in 1973. I have been asked by others why have an age limit at all? For nearly 38 years, this age limit has not been changed by Ohio’s voters. I believe that now is the time to approach this subject
Of course, changing the age of retirement does not guarantee that a judge automatically gets to continue his/her career, as Ohio voters will have the final say whether a judge deserves another term or not. This proposal simply gives more experienced judges the option to continue serving our great state.
It only makes sense that this age limit be increased. In this day and age, many people work into their 70s. Ohio judges that are experienced and competent should have the same opportunity to work for the citizens of Ohio.
Sincerely,
State Representative John Carey
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215[[In-content Ad]]