Two vie for L.B. City Court judge seat

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“It’s hardly uncommon for lawyers in their 60s to be running for judge,” Tepper said, adding that he is not ready to retire. “Age shouldn’t be an issue.”

Hommel, however, said that raising the age limit for state Supreme Court and appellate court judges would have no impact in Long Beach, and that if he were elected, he would not have to retire for another nine years. “The bottom line is, Tepper can’t serve out a full term — you can’t argue that, it’s the law,” Hommel said. “… I’m comfortable with the law, and if it doesn’t change I can serve nine years.”

Former Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Jack Mackston, 88, a Republican, stepped down as Long Beach City Court judge in 1988, after he was elected to the county judgeship at age 58. At age 69, he ran for re-election, and Tepper, who filled Mackston’s City Court judge seat, said there was no controversy surrounding that race. “When I was in county court, I turned 70 in August of that year and I served out the remainder of the calendar year,” Mackston said. “But the year before, I ran for the office because I could qualify for the remaining year, and I didn’t want to retire. I could still be working, my mind is clear. Should [the age limit] be more? If a judge is qualified, he should be able to apply for a two-year extension. As long as he could pass a mental and physical evaluation, why not?”

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