Raise retirement age for KC judges
Currently, the Kansas City charter requires that judges on the Municipal Court retire at age 65. But voters on Nov. 6 will have the chance to change the charter and raise that to age 70.
The Star recommends a “yes” vote on Question 1.
Even given the concerns we have long had with the pay levels of the judges and the work habits of some of them, boosting the mandatory retirement age is the right thing to do.
For starters, that would match state law, which has a required retirement at age 70 for its judges.
This would be a common-sense change, given the fact that people in professional careers often now work past 65.
Finally, Americans are living longer, and the judges on the Municipal Court can effectively serve the people of Kansas City after they reach 65 years old.
Generally, we just wish some of the judges — who are paid around $145,000 a year — would do a better job before they reach that age, and everyone would be happier.
Phil Cardarella
6 months, 3 weeks agoThe 65 limit — which is clearly in violation of state law — was put in the Charter revision when the City Attorney who drafted it should have known better. It was one of a number of items that were snuck through with little debate.