Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 238.500 through 238.585
created the PERS Judge Member Program, which allowed the transfer of all sitting judges
covered under the Judges Retirement Fund to the Judge Member Program. It also allowed the
transfer of district court judges, who were previously considered regular PERS members.
The Judge Member Program now automatically includes any judge of the Oregon Supreme Court,
Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court, and Circuit Courts.
Generally, if you are a judge elected or appointed on or after January 1, 1984, you
automatically become a judge member of PERS on the date you took office and are not subject to
the original Judges Retirement System under ORS 1.314 to 1.380 (ORS 238.505(1)).
As a judge member, you may retire pursuant to ORS 238.535(1)(a), referred to as "Plan A," or
pursuant to ORS 238.535(1)(b), referred to as "Plan B."
Mandatory retirement age for judges is 75, and judge members must make required contributions
for five calendar years before reaching 75. If you begin your service as a judge at an age
(e.g., 71 and older) where you cannot complete these contributions by 75, you will not vest in
the Judge Member Program and will not be considered a judge member. Any contributions that
were made on your behalf will be sent back to your employer.
For more information regarding this program, please refer to the Judge Member's Handbook.