A federal appeals court extended by another year the suspension of U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, the nation's oldest active federal judge, following allegations that the 97-year-old was no longer fit to serve. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's 11-member Judicial Council in a two-page order, unanimously adopted a recommendation by a three-judge committee investigating Newman to extend a suspension that began in September 2023. The Judicial Council suspended her last year, finding Newman refused to cooperate with an investigation into her fitness after staff raised concerns about her mental health. It barred her from hearing new cases while suspended or until she sat for court-directed medical examinations. Nate Raymond and Blake Brittain have more: https://reut.rs/3ZhCHHc #legal #legalnews
Some people think they will live forever or that they are irreplaceable. RBG is an example of someone, much respected as she was, staying past her due date. No 97 year old should be working, let alone as a judge. Mandatory retirement age is a must, we have for pilots, should have it for judges too
I'm going to be honest here - nobody should still be working at 97 in this country. Retirement is a good thing and we need to normalize it. The federal bench needs a mandatory retirement age. Yes, that includes the SCOTUS.
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India.
1moJudge Pauline Newman is a heroine in her own rights. She is suspended from discharging judicial functions as a Circuit judge. 97 years and still her urge to work is commendable. Action is initiated on the ground that her mental health is vulnerable. She has refused to cooperate with the inquiry. Now there are two grounds-1,Mental condition 2.Not cooperating with inquiry.If she can consciously avoid inquiry her mind should be stable. Condition of the mind can vary for all . Is the judge's position is like Malvolio in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', "Neither mad nor pretends to be mad but is treated as a mad man." An imbroglio in service jurisprudence. 🙏