Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the retirement of judges and to provide that a judicial vacancy shall remain vacant until the next judicial election in certain instances.

This legislation retains the Plan B early retirement incentive for supreme court justices, judges of the court of appeals and district judges who are serving as of April 1, 2024. After that date, any new positions will be ineligible for the Plan B option. In addition, this legislation acknowledges that selection for senior judge status is wholly within the discretion of the supreme court. If the Court approves senior judge status under the Plan B option for any supreme court justice, judge of the court of appeals, or district judge, who is retiring before the end of their elected term, that vacancy shall be filled by a senior judge until a new judge or justice can be elected. If no candidate is elected in the next judicial election, the position may then be filled through the judicial council selection process. This legislation has no impact on retirement status for judges or justices who are not applying for Plan B status. This legislation does not impact magistrate judges since they are not eligible for Plan B status.