The abolition of the mandatory retirement age for the New Jersey Supreme Court is necessary in order to preserve the impartial nature of the court and to limit the affect of partisan planning and appointments to the court.

Justices may now serve on the court, during times of good behavior, until the Justice’s retirement or death.

This bill preserves the right of the Justices to be impeached pursuant to Article VI, Section VI, paragraphs 4 and 5 of the New Jersey State Constitution of 1947.

Article VI, Section VI, paragraph 3 is amended to read “THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT SHALL HOLD THEIR OFFICES FOR INITIAL TERMS OF 7 YEARS AND UPON REAPPOINTMENT SHALL HOLD THEIR OFFICES DURING GOOD BEHAVIOR; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT, UPON THE ABOLITION OF THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS OR FAMILY COURT AND COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS AS PROVIDED BY LAW, THE JUDGES IN OFFICE IN THOSE FORMER COURTS WHO HAVE ACQUIRED TENURE AND THE JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT WHO HAVE ACQUIRED TENURE AS A JUDGE IN THOSE FORMER COURTS PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT TO THE SUPERIOR COURT, SHALL HAVE TENURE AS JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT. JUDGES OF THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS OR FAMILY COURT AND COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS WHO HAVE NOT ACQUIRED TENURE AS A JUDGE OF THOSE FORMER COURTS SHALL HOLD THEIR OFFICES FOR THE PERIOD OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TERMS WHICH REMAIN UNEXPIRED AND SHALL ACQUIRE TENURE UPON REAPPOINTMENT TO THE SUPERIOR COURT. PROVISIONS FOR THE PENSIONING OF THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT SHALL BE MADE BY LAW.”