American bar unit to omit age in judgeship ratings

After years of debate, the American Bar Association has changed its policy of refusing to recommend a person to a federal judgeship because of age. In a letter to Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, the ABA said it will "discontinue using the age guidelines" barring a person over age 60 from being nominated to the bench in most instances. The ABA's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary traditionally conducts investigations of prospective judges and issues ratings, based on such professional qualifications as judicial temperament, character, and competence, as a guide in nominations to the federal bench.