Retired judge sues over new health care charges

SPRINGFIEL — A retired judge is suing over a new law that will begin charging some state retires for health insurance.

Gordon Maag is a retired appellate judge who lost when he ran as a Democrat against Republican Lloyd Karmeier for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court from the 5th Judicial District in southern Illinois in 2004.

The State Journal-Register reported that Maag wants the law declared unconstitutional. He’s also asking that his lawsuit be declared a class-action on behalf of all retirees.

Last month, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the law, which will eliminate reduced or even free health insurance for more than 80,000 retired government employees. Quinn said retirees deserve quality health care but the change was needed to make the system more cost-efficient for Illinois taxpayers.