§23. Judges; Retirement
Section 23.(A) Retirement System. Within two years after the effective date of this
constitution, the legislature shall provide for a retirement system for judges which shall apply
to a judge taking office after the effective date of the law enacting the system and in which
a judge in office at that time may elect to become a member, with credit for all prior years
of judicial service and without contribution therefor. The retirement benefits and judicial
service rights of a judge in office or retired on the effective date of this constitution shall not
be diminished, nor shall the benefits to which a surviving spouse is entitled be reduced.
NOTE: Paragraph (B) eff. until ratification of the const. amend. proposed by Acts 2025, No.
219.
(B) Mandatory Retirement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a judge
shall not remain in office beyond his seventieth birthday. A judge who attains seventy years
of age while serving a term of office shall be allowed to complete that term of office.
NOTE: Paragraph (B) eff. upon ratification of the const. amend. proposed by Acts 2025, No.
219.
(B) Mandatory Retirement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a judge
shall not remain in office beyond his seventy-fifth birthday. A judge who attains seventy-five
years of age while serving a term of office shall be allowed to complete that term of office.
Acts 2003, No. 1296, §1, approved Oct. 4, 2003, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2025, No.
219, §1, eff. See Act.