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Judges and Judiciary

Jul. 17, 2024

Why it’s time for older judges to retire and make way for younger generations

There should be a voluntary retirement age of 75 for federal and state judicial officers, which would allow younger judges to replace them. Older judges take longer to write their opinions, rely more on heuristics and briefs, and reduce the performance and influence of younger judges on the courts.

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Are you a federal or state judicial officer who’s at least 75 years old? If the answer is yes, then it’s time for you to retire and make room for someone younger. I know – you’ve heard it all before. But indulge me for a minute, please.

If you’re reading this, you’re a lawyer or a judge, so you know the good reason for the life tenure for federal judges enshrined in Article III of our federal constitution. Alexander Hamilton, no dummy, dism...

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