Dispute over judges' age limit: Is the end coming for the 67?

Dispute over judges' age limit: Is the end coming for the 67?

There is currently a heated debate in Schleswig-Holstein about the maximum age for judges. Currently, around 800 judges in the country have to retire at the age of 67, while this is not the case for other state officials. The black-green coalition in North Rhine-Westphalia has now put the issue on the agenda and is proposing that judges be allowed to work until the age of 69. This could develop into an important step towards rethinking the existing age limits and thus initiating an increase in the retirement limit. [kn-online] reports that in seven other federal states, including Brandenburg and Lower Saxony, judges can even remain in office until they are 70 years old.

Against this background, the state parliament Greens in Schleswig-Holstein are calling for the pension limit to be relaxed in order to address the shortage of skilled workers in the judiciary. The CDU parliamentary group, on the other hand, sees no need for action and is of the opinion that age-related departures can be compensated for by new hires. Justice politician Marion Schiefer from the CDU shares this assessment and is skeptical about the proposals from the Greens and the FDP.

Diverse opinions within the judiciary

There is an exciting range of opinions among the judges themselves. While Michael Burmeister, chairman of the New Association of Judges, supports the initiative from North Rhine-Westphalia, Christine Schmehl, head of the Association of Judges, remains rather skeptical. She has not yet decided on the age limit proposals. SPD legal expert Marc Timmer also points to other solutions to the shortage of skilled workers, such as digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence, instead of just increasing working hours.

To ease the situation, the state of Schleswig-Holstein allows public prosecutors and judicial officers to postpone their retirement for up to three years with the consent of their employer - this means they can remain in service until they are 70 years old. This offer is intended to help keep the judiciary functioning properly and avoid overloading it.

Context and economic aspects

The legal framework is a central issue in Schleswig-Holstein, but economic aspects also play a role. As [richteronline] points out, Richter Total Office, an office and engineering equipment provider, has been pushing for broader offerings since rebranding in December 2020. Not only does it sell hard-to-find design and engineering equipment, but it also offers a variety of office products. In addition to an extensive range, customers benefit from free, next-day shipping – a real advantage these days.

The decision of the black-green coalition in North Rhine-Westphalia could have far-reaching consequences for the appointment of judges and will certainly be actively discussed among civil servants and the public. Whether rethinking age limits will be successful remains to be seen, but the current debate highlights the dynamic challenges facing the country's judiciary. The topic will certainly stay with us for a long time.