Judge Pauline Newman, who at 96 years old is the oldest federal judge currently serving in the United States, has filed a federal lawsuit against her fellow judges after being suspended by her colleagues on the Federal Circuit’s Judicial Council. The suspension was based on allegations of physical health frailty and concerns about her mental fitness.
Newman, who was appointed by then-US President Ronald Reagan in 1985, claims that Chief Judge Kimberly Moore informed her that she must take senior status, a decision she found “ridiculous.” In response to her suspension, Newman filed a federal lawsuit in May, asserting that the allegations against her were unfounded.
During an interview with the New Civil Liberties Alliance, Newman expressed her belief that she should not yield to efforts by judicial colleagues to force her out based on personal disagreements. She maintains that she is mentally and physically fit to continue her role and has obtained independent evaluations from two doctors to support her claim.
The Judicial Council, however, defended its decision by citing more than 20 interviews with court staff, which revealed concerns about Newman’s mental state, including memory loss, confusion, lack of comprehension, paranoia, anger, hostility, and severe agitation. According to the council, Newman had trouble recalling recent events, conversations, and information and struggled to comprehend basic information from court staff.
Federal judges are appointed for life and are not required to retire at a specific age. Newman’s lawyers argue that her suspension is illegal and are seeking a review from a committee overseeing judicial conduct. They contend that the committee could have investigated the allegations earlier and criticize Chief Judge Moore and her committee for their actions.
