The chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court will be forced to retire next year, after voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the state’s mandatory retirement age for justices and judges.
Proposition 13—which would have raised the retirement age from 75 to 79—was voted down on Tuesday’s constitutional amendment election, with 63 percent of voters opposing the measure.
All 13 other proposed amendments were approved.
While many may speculate as to the reasons why the proposal failed, the practical effect will shake up the state’s highest civil court—the Texas Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, who was first elected to the court in 1988, will turn 75 next year.
Hecht was re-elected in 2020 to a six-year term.
Because of the mandatory retirement age, Hecht must resign next year, leaving open a position to be appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
As of publishing, Hecht did not respond to a request for comment.
