Taking senior status also gives judges some flexibility, which may lead, at least in Sweet s case, to the opportunity to take a busman s holiday. Sweet now has the time to respond to invitations to visit China and speak to judges and students there about the U.S. judicial system. In September he ll visit Albania to lecture on the federal Judiciary. Given the fact that federal judges at retirement have the option to do nothing, senior judges are a boon to the system. And being a senior judge is the most desirable job in the United States.
Senior judges are among the most unique public servants in the world.
They give a new meaning to the word volunteer. In the Courts of Appeals for 1995-1999, Senior Judges Only represents resident senior circuit judges only. In the District Courts, the Senior Judges Only totals do not include the work of senior circuit judges in the district courts.