Judiciary Aargau government wants to maintain age limit of 70 for judges
In Aargau, part-time judges should continue to have to retire on reaching the age of 70. The Government Council has rejected a proposal from the Grand Council calling for the term of office to be extended beyond the 71st birthday.
13.09.2024, 09:13
SDA
The government sees "no operational need" to allow exceptions to the existing age limit, as it writes in its response published on Friday. There are often competitive elections for part-time judgeships. The age limit makes it easier for younger people to gain access and means that "the overall population is better represented in the court composition".
Of the 19 part-time district judges who would reach the age of 70 in the 2025-2028 term of office, 14 did not even stand for re-election. Of the justices of the peace, 4 out of 11 had decided not to stand for re-election.
Zurich plans age limit of 68
Raising the age limit would run counter to developments at federal level and in other cantons, writes the cantonal government. The retirement age at the Federal Supreme Court has been lowered from 70 to 68. In the canton of Zurich, a uniform age limit of 68 is soon to apply for full-time and part-time judges.
The SVP, FDP, centrist and SP motionaries wrote that the replacement elections for part-time judges, who are elected by the people for a four-year term, create a lot of work and high costs for the canton and municipalities. Greater flexibility could also increase planning security. The government responds that the exact costs are difficult to quantify, but are manageable.
