Senior status is a form of semi-
retirement for
United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. A judge must be at least 65 years of age and have served in
federal courts for 15 years to qualify, with one fewer year of service required for each additional year of age. When that happens, they receive the full
salary of a judge but have the option to take a reduced caseload, although many senior judges choose to continue to work
full-time. Additionally, senior judges do not occupy seats; instead, their seats become vacant, and the
President may appoint new full-time judges to fill their spots. Depending on how heavy a caseload they carry, senior judges remain entitled to maintain a staffed office, including a secretary and one or more
law clerks.
States having a similar system include
Iowa (for judges on the
Iowa Court of Appeals),
Pennsylvania, and
Virginia (for Justices of the
Virginia Supreme Court). Retired Justices of the
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and certain other retired senior
British judges may, at the request of the
President of the Supreme Court, sit as "acting judges" on a "supplementary panel" of the Court, provided that they are below the age of 75 at the time of the request.