HARRISBURG — Raising the retirement age for Pennsylvania judges from 70 to 75 may strike many as common sense, given the longer life span of people these days.

But a proposed constitutional amendment pending before legislators could cause a cascade of complications, depending on the timing of any decision lawmakers make to put the measure before voters for final approval.

Twenty judges turn 70 next year, and under current law would have to resign by the end of 2015. Among the 20, elections will be held for 14 common pleas judgeships, five magisterial district judgeships and one seat on Commonwealth Court.

But when the retirement age was extended in the past, at least one judge argued he could remain on the bench even after voters elected to replace him. For a while, both were allowed to serve.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said lawmakers will have to consider this dilemma. He said he was unsure what to do about the judges who are about to turn 70.

“I guess that’s something we’re going to have to look at, but we haven’t discussed it yet,” Corman said.

The constitutional amendment easily passed both chambers last year. Corman said the timing of a second vote required before the proposal can be referred to voters remains undecided. If it does get approval a second time, the measure could go before voters in the primary or general election of next year and would presumably take effect immediately upon voter approval.

“There’s concern, from what I understand through the grapevine, three or four candidates are considering running for my seat,” said Beaver County Common Pleas Judge Gus Kwidis, who turns 70 next month, with seven years left in his current term. “So, I mean, it could create a problem.”

Kwidis said he plans to seek senior status and does not intend to challenge his newly elected successor, if it comes to that. But if others assert their right to stay on, they may have a strong legal case to make.

“There are only a few ways to remove a judge, and holding an election to replace him is not one of them,” said Duquesne Law professor Bruce Ledewitz. “You’ve elected a judge to a 10-year term. You didn’t elect them to a term ending at the time they got to the retirement age.”

The remaining nine who turn 70 next year are now in the last year of their terms and won’t be legally eligible to run in the 2015 primary or, as in the case of three county judges, seek retention as the new year begins.