seniority
senior status
higher status
higher rank

In 1979, at the age of 65, the judge took senior status.

After taking senior status, he began to spend about half his time on the effort.

He has been on senior status effective May 1, 1994.

He took senior status with the court on September 24, 2011.

He continued to serve in senior status until his death.

In 1973, he took senior status, though kept hearing cases until earlier this year.

He remained in senior status on that court until his death.

He reached senior status in 1930 and remained with the court until his death.

He served as chief judge from 1995 to 2002, and took senior status on September 24, 2011.

He took senior status in 1986, reducing his number of cases.