The oldest U.S. federal judge, Pauline Newman, is fighting for her right to continue her job after being suspended last year following the allegations that she is no longer mentally fit to serve.
In September 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals anonymously adopted a recommendation by a committee of judges who claimed Newman, the now 97-year-old judge, was mentally unfit, describing her deteriorating health, including memory loss, paranoia, confusion, severe agitation, and lack of comprehension.
The committee of judges also stated that Newman was slower than her colleagues in delivering rulings. After the rise of such concerns, Newman was ordered to sit for a court-directed mental health exam, but she refused. Later, the Court banned her from the bench until she cooperated with the mental health exam.
Who is Pauline Newman? Everything we know about the 97-year-old U.S. federal judge
U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman was appointed in 1984 by President Ronald W. Reagan. Newman, who holds a B.A. from Vassar College, has completed an M.A. from Columbia University, a Ph.D. from Yale University, and an LL.B. from New York University. She has served for almost 40 years.
Throughout her years of serving, Newman had dealt with multiple cases. Some of the significant cases included Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc. v. Corazonix Corp, Jazz Photo Corp. v. U.S. International Trade Commission, and Merck KGaA v. Integra Lifesciences I, Ltd. Her reasoning for ruling in some of these patent law cases was adopted by The Supreme Court as well.
Before being appointed, Newman was a research scientist at the American Cyanamid Company and a science policy specialist at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She was also a law professor at the George Mason University School of Law.
The 97-year-old judge is currently fighting the suspension order as Kimberly Moore, the Federal Circuit's chief judge, made the judgment that Newman "had shown signs of serious cognitive and physical impairment."
Her suspension was initially set for one year; however, it was later decided that the ban would remain unchanged until she underwent a mental health check-up.
On Monday, she appealed in the U.S. Court of Appeals, stating that despite being the oldest judge, she retains sharp intellect. She also received independent evaluations from doctors who claimed she was mentally and physically fit to do her job. As per Fox News reports,
"Judge Newman’s indefinite, complete suspension is unprecedented in American judicial history, exceeding sanctions imposed on judges who committed serious misconduct and improprieties. Suspending an Article III judge from all judicial functions of her office is unconstitutional," stated the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a non-profit group which is representing Newman in this case.
According to the group, Newman was recently evaluated by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron G. Filler, who concluded that Newman showed no relevant deficits and is completely fit to return to her job.
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Filler also examined "Newman’s verbal and analytical abilities during my examination of my prior interactions with her as an attorney who appeared before her on two separate occasions in 2019 and 2022,” he stated.
Newman had earlier sued the U.S. Court of Appeals chief judge and her other colleagues in Washington federal court for their investigation into her health; however, her appeal was dismissed.
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