The New Hampshire voters will have the opportunity to decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that aims to raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75. The amendment, which was overwhelmingly supported by the state Legislature, is set to be on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
The prime sponsor of the proposal, Rep. Bob Lynn, shared his personal experience of having to retire as a N.H. Supreme Court justice in 2019 due to the current mandatory retirement age. He believes that there are many good judges who would like to continue serving beyond the age of 70.
However, not everyone is in favor of this amendment. Some, like Rep. Nicholas Germana, believe that having younger minds in the judiciary is important for bringing new ideas and perspectives. Rep. Joe Alexander also voted against the proposal, arguing that there is already an adequate pool of potential judges and extending the retirement age would limit opportunities for younger individuals.
A poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire found that only 12 percent of likely voters understood the proposal, with 56 percent planning to vote against it. It will require a two-thirds majority to pass.
The amendment has sparked a debate about the need for older, experienced judges versus the importance of bringing in new blood and diversity of ideas into the judiciary. Voters will now have the opportunity to weigh in on this issue come November.
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