US's oldest federal judge, 96, suspended over mental competency concerns

The United States’ oldest federal judge, aged 96, has been suspended from her role due to concerns about her mental abilities. This situation has sparked a discussion about older politicians like Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Pauline Newman, who has served as a judge since 1984, has been accused by her colleagues of working slowly and frequently appearing confused, agitated, and argumentative. These behaviors have raised concerns about her mental condition, as stated in the decision made by the Judicial Council of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Reports from interviews with her staff have provided strong evidence suggesting that Judge Newman might be facing significant mental challenges, including memory loss, difficulty understanding, confusion, and an inability to perform basic tasks. Despite being given a reduced workload, Newman takes four times as long as other judges to issue opinions in cases before the court. The council decided to suspend her for one year because she refused to undergo an examination by a neurologist and psychiatrist chosen by the council to assess her mental fitness. This suspension could be extended if she continues to refuse cooperation. However, Newman, who hasn’t been allowed to review cases since April, claims that the proceedings against her were conducted unlawfully and suggests they were driven by personal animosity from other judges. She supports her argument with the results of examinations conducted by specialists she chose herself. According to psychiatrist Regina Carney, “Judge Newman did not display any significant emotional, medical, or psychiatric disability that would prevent her from continuing her long-held role as a judge.” This case raises questions about the abilities of elderly politicians, such as President Joe Biden, who is 80, and his rival Donald Trump, who is 77, to carry out their duties. Born in 1927, Newman earned a PhD in chemistry from Yale and became an expert in patent law. In 1984, she was appointed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a specialized court dealing with patent laws and government contracts. She was even referred to as “the heroine of the patent system.” Newman’s attorney, Gregory Dolin of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, believes that the review of her case was biased against her. He stated, “The key issue here is that Judge Newman was not given fair treatment.” He also mentioned that personal animosities and age discrimination played a role in the case. “It’s easy to label her as too old at 96, even if it’s not accurate,” Dolin added. “Judge Newman doesn’t belong in the same category as some politicians in Washington.” (With inputs from agencies)