Virginia Democrats Can Overturn Redistricting Ruling By Forcing Supreme Court Retirement
In response to the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate a voter-approved congressional redistricting amendment, Democrats are considering a unique legislative strategy. The Virginia Constitution grants the General Assembly the power to set mandatory retirement ages for judges. By lowering this age, for instance to 54, and making the change effective immediately through inclusion in the upcoming budget bill, the entire current court could be compelled into early retirement. This would allow for the appointment of a new court that could then revisit the redistricting case.
John Q. Hosedrinker