Supreme court justices and district judges-retirement.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what happens to judges who are already seventy years old when the amendment passes.

Changing Retirement Age for Judges

This resolution proposes to change the mandatory retirement age of Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges from seventy (70) years old to seventy-five (75) years old, removing an outdated exception.

What This Bill Does

• Proposes a constitutional amendment that increases the mandatory retirement age for Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges from seventy (70) years old to seventy-five (75) years old.
• Removes the current exception in the constitution which allowed some judges to continue serving past seventy if they had not completed six years of service by December 12, 1972.

Who It Names or Affects

• Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges who will have to retire later under the new rules.
• The people of Wyoming, as they will vote on whether to approve this change in their constitution.

Terms To Know

Constitutional amendment

A proposed change to a state's or country's constitution that needs approval from voters before it can be officially adopted.

Mandatory retirement age

The specific age at which someone must stop working, as required by law or rules set by an organization.

Limits and Unknowns

• This resolution will not take effect until it is approved by voters in the next general election.
• It does not specify what happens to judges who are already seventy years old when this amendment passes.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 22LSO-0115
Bill No.:

HJ0001

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

22LSO-0115

Enrolled Act No.:

HEJR No. 0001

Chapter No.:

N/A

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Supreme court justices and district judges-retirement.

Subject:

Mandatory retirement age for Supreme court justices and district judges.

Summary/Major Elements:

Currently, the Wyoming Constitution requires Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district judges to retire at age seventy (70). An exception is included for justices and judges who had not completed six years of judicial service as of December 12, 1972.

The adoption of this constitutional amendment would increase the mandatory retirement age of justices and district judges to age seventy-five (75) and would strike the now-obsolete exception for judicial service as of December 13, 1972.

Comments:

This proposed constitutional amendment will become effective only if passed at the next general election.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

22LSO-0115

ORIGINAL House

JOINT RESOLUTION
.
HJ0001

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2022 Budget Session

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution by amending the retirement age requirements for Wyoming supreme court justices and district court judges.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.

The following proposal to amend the Wyoming Constitution, Article 5, Section 5 is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 5, Section 5.

Voluntary retirement and compensation of justices and judges.

Subject to the further provisions of this section, the legislature shall provide for the voluntary retirement and compensation of justices and judges of the supreme court and district courts, and may do so for any other courts, on account of length of service, age and disability, and for their reassignment to active duty where and when needed. The office of every such justice and judge shall become vacant when the incumbent reaches the age of
seventy (70)
seventy-five (75)
years, as the legislature may prescribe
.
; but, in the case of an incumbent whose term of office includes the effective date of this amendment, this provision shall not prevent him from serving the remainder of said term nor be applicable to him before his period or periods of judicial service shall have reached a total of six (6) years.
The legislature may also provide for benefits for dependents of justices and judges.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

Currently, the Wyoming Constitution requires Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges to retire upon reaching the age of seventy (70). This amendment increases the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court justices and district court judges from age seventy (70) to age seventy-five (75).

The Constitution also currently provides an exception to the mandatory requirement to retire upon reaching age seventy (70) for justices and judges who had not yet completed six (6) years of judicial service as of December 12, 1972. The proposed amendment would remove the now-obsolete six (6) year service guarantee.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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