United States Circuit Judge Pauline Newman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is under formal investigation by a three judge panel of the Federal Circuit under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act.
She is 95 years old (96 in late June) and holds the record for the oldest active status Judge in history. (The overall record of 104 is held by the late Wesley Brown, but that was achieved in senior status.)
Unfortunately, she, like the rest of us, is merely mortal. And by the small amount of evidence I have seen, she has overstayed her ability to serve in active status. Clearly though, she has no intention of leaving voluntarily.
Pretty much certain she will be involuntarily certified as disabled, permitting the court to relieve her of duty and for President Biden to appoint her replacement.
Better for her to simply retire. Clearly it is her time to leave.
I don’t know. Biden isn’t a good argument that old people can still be competent in performing important duties. (admittedly not too far in my future).
Biden … dottering … in office, so to say (relative to Biden supporters) that people in what for them passes for their dotage can’t be in office is weaker just now, not stronger,
Yes. I have definitely noticed that there are some people who’s positions can always be predicted before they post them. Those same people are often the ones who complain most about “reflexive partisanship”.
Newman is clearly digging in for a fight. She has hired outside counsel to fight the proceedings.
Pending an outcome, she has been removed from all cases and duty and her staff temporarily reassigned.
Meaning that she likely has performed her last official duty on the Federal Circuit. I don’t see her prevailing. Most likely she will be involuntarily certified as disabled and permanently relieved of duty. Of course, she will receive her salary for life (or an equivalent pension if she gives in and retires). She will simply have an empty office and nothing to do but stare at the clock all day.
