DISCUSSION: WILL STARK COUNTY VOTERS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH JUDGE HOFFMAN'S RETIRE/REHIRE PLAN?

Justice Scalia told 60 Minutes today (broadcast on April 27, 2008) that he thought he would retire at age 65 (he's now 72) because monetarily there would be no point in continuing. At age 65 U.S. Supreme Court Justices can retire at full salary.

Thus he is working for the love of his job! Unless, he wants to take a page out of the Hoffman play book and retire and then have the president reappoint him. Of course, that could be risky. Could Scalia get through a confirmation hearing with U.S. Senate Democrats being in charge?

Apparently, Stark County's Judge Hoffman is not working for the mere love of the job.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice, Thomas Moyer, while not naming Hoffman, says judges who get re-elected and retire prior to re-taking office are "working the system."

Retired Stark County Common Pleas Judge Harry Klide opposes the Hoffman plan for well articulated reasons in a Rep column he recent wrote.

It could be that the Ohio Legislature will intervene and upset the Hoffman plan. (Reference:"State legislators should change law on double dipping," Thursday, April 17, 2008, The Repository.)

For right now, the question is: Will Stark Countians and voters throughout the 5th District Court of Appeals give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" come November?