Federal appeals judge Pauline Newman, 98, has asked the Supreme Court to restore her to the bench after three years sidelined over competency concerns. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit judge claims a lack of due process in the investigation launched against her in 2023. Her case underscores broader questions about aging in the federal judiciary.
Judge Pauline Newman joined the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1984 and became known for her work in patent law. She has been barred from hearing cases since March 2023, when the court's chief judge initiated a fitness investigation at age 95. Newman refused exams by court-selected experts, opting for her own doctors who declared her fit for duty. No court has ruled her incompetent, and her attorney John Vecchione called the sidelining unjust, noting that judges involved in scandals have remained on the bench longer despite wrongdoing. Vecchione said, 'The idea that she's not capable of doing her judicial duties is nonsense.'
