The occupational fate of Ohio’s older judges will be in the hands of voters when they consider a change in the state’s constitution on Nov. 8, says the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Under the law in place the past 38 years, judges could not run for election after turning 70. But last month, the state legislature voted to put forward Issue 1 on the ballot. If approved, the measure would raise to 76 the age a judge could run for office. That means a judge could serve to the age of 82.
If the issue fails, 72 of Ohio’s 718 judges would be prevented from running for new terms, according to statistics provided by the Ohio Supreme Court. Supreme Court spokesman Chris Davey and others said they don’t know who pushed to place Issue 1 on the ballot. State Rep. Matt Huffman, a Republican from Lima, sponsored the resolution. Huffman told the Dayton Daily News that the proposal reflects the fact that people now live longer and often retain their capabilities.