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The Hawaii chapter of the American Judicature Society has set up a special committee to consider whether the state Constitution’s mandatory retirement age at age 70 for state justices and judges should be changed.
James Burns, retired chairman of the Hawaii chapter and former chief judge of the state appeals court, announced the formation of the committee Friday.
The Hawaii chapter said the committee was created after "renewed public interest" arose on the issue following the retirement of Associate Justice James Duffy, who was forced to leave the bench at age 70 this year.
The chapter also cited a Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial in June calling for the lifting of the mandatory retirement age.
Chairmen of the committee are former Associate Justice Steven Levinson and Honolulu attorney Colin Miwa of the Cades Schutte law firm. The committee includes judges, lawyers and community members.
A constitutional amendment would have to be approved by Hawaii voters before the mandatory age can be changed or lifted.