2025 -- S 0289

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- JUDICIAL SELECTION

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, McKenney, and Euer

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 8-16.1-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-16.1 entitled "Judicial

Selection" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     8-16.1-7. Tenure of justices.

     (a) The justices of the supreme court, the superior court, the family court, the district court,

the workers’ compensation court, and the traffic tribunal shall hold office during good behavior.

     (b) Any justice and magistrate of the superior court, the family court, the district court, the

workers’ compensation court, and the traffic tribunal initially appointed after July 1, 2025, shall

hold office during good behavior, provided, however, that upon attaining the age of seventy-five

(75), shall be mandated to retire.

     (c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not prohibit the justices and

magistrates of the superior court, the family court, the district court, the workers’ compensation

court, and the traffic tribunal from service after retirement pursuant to § 8-3-10.

     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the provisions of §§ 8-

3-7, 8-3-8, 8-3-11, 8-8.2-6 and 8-8.2-9 and any other law providing for retirement of a justice of

any court of this state, shall remain in full force and effect.

     (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, whenever any justice

has reached the mandatory age of retirement as provided herein, and has served in judicial office

without having reached the prescribed tenure or years of service that would entitle them to

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 shall forward the

recommendation to the general assembly for appropriate legislative action in order that the justice’s

pension benefits be so accelerated.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- JUDICIAL SELECTION

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     This act would set a mandatory retirement age of seventy-five (75) for all justices and

magistrates of the superior, district, workers’ compensation, family and traffic tribunal courts who

are initially appointed after July 1, 2025 and provide that no pension or retirement benefits be

affected thereby.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

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