The bill amends Section 8-16.1-7 of the General Laws regarding the tenure of justices in various courts, establishing a mandatory retirement age of seventy-five (75) for justices and magistrates of the superior court, family court, district court, workers compensation court, and traffic tribunal who are initially appointed after July 1, 2025. These justices and magistrates will hold office during good behavior, but upon reaching the age of seventy-five, they will be required to retire. The bill clarifies that this mandatory retirement does not prevent justices and magistrates from serving after retirement under existing laws.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a justice reaches the mandatory retirement age without having served the necessary tenure for retirement benefits, the Supreme Court shall recommend that their pension rights be accelerated to become effective as of the date of their retirement. The Supreme Court will forward this recommendation to the General Assembly for appropriate legislative action. The provisions of the bill will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
289: 8-16.1-7