Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for U.S. federal judges. After a U.S. federal judge has reached a certain combination of age and years of federal service, he or she is allowed to assume senior status. When that happens, they receive the full salary of a judge but only work part-time. Additionally, a senior judge does not occupy a seat; instead, their seat becomes vacant, and the President may appoint a new full-time judge to fill their spot.
In 1919, Congress created the senior status option for inferior court judges. At that time, judges who reached the age of seventy with at least ten years of service as a federal judge were allowed to assume senior status rather than retire. In 1937, the senior status option was extended to Supreme Court justices. A senior justice is essentially an at-large senior circuit judge, able to be assigned to any circuit by the Chief Justice of the United States, but receiving the salary of a resigned justice.
In 1954, Congress modified entry requirements for the senior status option. Federal judges or justices could still assume senior status at seventy with ten years of service, but they could also assume senior status at 65 with fifteen years of service. In 1984, the requirements were further modified to what is often called the "Rule of 80": once a judge or justice reached age 65, any combination of years of age and years of service on the federal bench which totalled to eighty entitled the judge to assume senior status.
Reference
- "How One Mistake Leads To Another: A Research Note." Political Analysis. Accessed on May 25, 2005.
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