Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Louis Lavorato is leaving the post at the end of September — and though the retirement is mandatory because of his age — Lavorato says he doesn’t want to stay on.

Lavorato says, “No, I think it’s time. At 72 years old, I think it’s time to give the younger folks a chance at this work. It’s been a good ride. I’ve had my ups and downs, mostly ups.” Lavorato became a district court judge in 1979, joined the high court in 1986, and has been chief justice the last six years.

Lavorato says, “I never regretted my decision to be a judge. I think, I’ve said from the beginning…I can’t think of a better way to make a living, being a judge. No regrets.” Lavorato says he has been appointed as a senior judge to the court, so he isn’t stopping his work altogether.

Lavorato says the court gets about 45-hundred to five thousand motions a year, and he’ll be helping the court in going over the motions. Lavorato says he’ll also help with the screening process in deciding which cases to review. Lavorato says he has a “particular fondness” for the new Supreme Court Building as he served on the committee that planned the building.

Lavorato says he’ll continue to share his love of the building with others. Lavorato says he’s given a number of tours in the building and hopes to continue to give tours. Lavorato says his new position requires him to work 13 weeks of the year.