A Constitution Revision Commission proposal to extend the retirement age of Florida’s Supreme Court justices from 70 to 75 is moving forward, and may soon be in front of voters. Commissioner Darryl Rouson says he trusts the move won’t negatively affect diversity in the position.
"As Commissioner Schifino knows, we had quite a hard conversation some years ago about diversity, about the opportunity for African Americans, Hispanics and women to sit on the bench," Rouson said. "And he worked hard in the 13th Circuit to create more diversity."
The provision was last amended in 1972, when the average life expectancy was 69. There is no retirement age for U.S. Supreme Court justices, and no other branch of government has a mandatory retirement age. Commissioner Bill Schifino’s proposal will head to the CRC’s style and drafting committee before it reaches the ballot.
