Voters will decide whether Pa. judges may serve until 75

Voters will get to decide whether Pennsylvania judges should be allowed to stay on the bench for an additional five years before they are forced to retire.

The state Senate voted 36-to-13 Monday to approve a pair of bills to extend the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 and put the proposal out for a referendum vote in the April 26 primary.

The Senate action completed the two rounds of legislative approval that are required for a constitutional amendment.

The Senate vote came less than two weeks after Democrats won three open seats on the state Supreme Court to claim a 5-2 majority on Pennsylvania’s highest court.

All of the state’s roughly 1,000 judges would be affected if voters approve the retirement age change.