Survivor Benefits
Eligible Survivor. Only a spouse who, at the time of your death, has been married to you for at least two years, is eligible for survivor benefits. Benefit payments are not affected by the remarriage of your spouse. Payments stop upon his or her death
If You Die Before Retirement. If you are an active judge at the time of your death, and you have at least 10 years of service credit, your surviving spouse is eligible to receive a benefit equal to 50 percent of the benefit you would have received had you retired on the date of your death.
No survivor benefits are payable and your contributions cannot be refunded if you die:
If death occurs after your retirement for service or disability, your eligible spouse will receive the greater of 50 percent of your retirement benefit or 25 percent of your final average salary.
Eligibility. You may be eligible for a disability retirement benefit if you have served as a judge for at least 10 years and you believe you are permanently disabled “for the full and efficient performance of your duties.”
Benefits will be granted if a physician appointed by JRS finds that you are disabled and the Director of DRS concurs.
The Commission on Judicial Conduct may retire a judge for a disability which is permanent or likely to become permanent and which seriously interferes with the performance of judicial duties.
A benefit of one-half of your final average salary is payable from the first day following termination of your judicial employment.