Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 17 October 2024.#HB v Bundesrepublik Deutschland.#Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Karlsruhe.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Social policy – Equal treatment in employment and occupation – Directive 2000/78/EC – Article 2(2)(a) – Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of age – Mandatory retirement age – National legislation precluding any postponement of the retirement of federal judges – Possibility for federal civil servants and Land judges to request the postponement of retirement – Difference in treatment on grounds of membership of a socio-professional category or place of work.#Case C-349/23.