Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for U.S. federal judges. After a U.S. federal judge has reached a certain combination of age and years of federal service, he or she is allowed to assume senior status. When that happens, they receive the full salary of a judge but only work part-time. Additionally, a senior judge does not occupy a seat; instead, their seat becomes vacant, and the President may appoint a new full-time judge to fill their spot. Depending on how heavy a caseload they carry, senior judges are entitled to maintain a staffed office, including a secretary and one or more law clerks. The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state of the United States. ...

In 1919, Congress created the senior status option for inferior court judges. At that time, judges who reached the age of seventy with at least ten years of service as a federal judge were allowed to assume senior status rather than resign. (Until 1958,the judges who retired under this act were called "retired judges".At that time,the title of "senior judge",which until 1948 had been used for those thereafter titled "chief judge" of circuit courts,was substituted). In 1937, the senior status option was extended to Supreme Court justices. A senior justice is essentially an at-large senior circuit judge, able to be assigned to any circuit (or other federal court) by the Chief Justice of the United States, but receiving the salary of a retired justice. 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of the Congress. ... Seal of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest federal court in the United States of America. ... The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the Judicial Branch of the government of the United States, and presides over the Supreme Court of the United States. ...

In 1954, Congress modified entry requirements for the senior status option. Federal judges or justices could still assume senior status at seventy with ten years of service, but they could also assume senior status at 65 with fifteen years of service. In 1984, the requirements were further modified to what is often called the "Rule of 80": once a judge or justice reached age 65, any combination of years of age and years of service on the federal bench which totalled to eighty entitled the judge to assume senior status. 1954 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Reference

• "How One Mistake Leads To Another: A Research Note". Political Analysis. URL accessed on May 25, 2005. (Word document, 89 kB)