Judges - Mandatory Retirement Age

HB 638 proposes amending the Maryland Constitution to increase the mandatory retirement age for most judges from 70 to 73 years. The bill specifically affects judges in all courts except the District Court and certain Orphans' Court judges (with limited exceptions for Montgomery and Harford Counties). Key provisions revise Sections 3, 3A, 5A, 18B, and 41D of Article IV to reflect the new retirement age, requiring judges to retire upon reaching 73 instead of 70. This change would apply to all judges serving in elected or appointed judicial positions, excluding the specified exceptions. The amendment requires approval by three-fifths of both legislative chambers to proceed.