Hold put on age cap for Louisiana posts

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana court officials who face new age restrictions that could oust them from office will be allowed to sign up for re-election bids this week.

A Baton Rouge judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday against enforcing a law that prohibits anyone 70 or older from running for justice of the peace or constable.

District Judge Tim Kelley granted the request from the Louisiana Justice of the Peace and Constables Association, which says in a lawsuit the restriction amounts to unconstitutional age discrimination. A law establishing the mandatory retirement age of 70 for the court officials has been on the books since 2006, but it exempted anyone elected before Aug. 15 of that year. Legislation this year removed that exemption, a change that was to affect about 160 elected officials.

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