U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, 96, has been suspended from hearing new cases by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The suspension comes amid a growing dispute over Judge Newman’s mental competence to serve on the bench.
The council of judges on the Washington, D.C., court unanimously stated that Newman had failed to cooperate with an investigation into her fitness and barred her from hearing new cases for at least one year or until she sits for court-ordered medical examinations.
Such a public and contentious internal dispute over competency is highly unusual in the federal judiciary. This case has brought to light the delicate issue of age and mental fitness in positions of such high responsibility and public trust.
Judge Newman, who has served on the bench for many years, now finds herself at the center of a controversy that could have far-reaching implications for the judiciary. The outcome of this case could potentially influence policies and procedures regarding age and fitness assessments for federal judges in the future.