Oldest Active Federal Judge Seeks Supreme Court to Lift Suspension A 98-year-old federal judge, who holds the distinction of being the oldest active judge in the U.S. judiciary, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her suspension from hearing new cases. Judge Pauline Newman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is seeking to have the suspension lifted, arguing that the action violates her constitutional rights and undermines judicial independence. Newman, who will turn 99 in June, was suspended in 2023 by the Federal Circuit’s judicial council after refusing to undergo medical evaluations to assess claims of memory loss and confusion. The suspension effectively barred her from presiding over new cases, a move she contends is akin to an impeachment process reserved for Congress. In her petition, Newman asserts that the suspension threatens the principle of judicial independence and may infringe upon the separation of powers between branches of government. Her legal challenge centers on the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act, which grants judicial councils authority to investigate allegations of disability against federal judges. Newman argues that the act’s provisions are unconstitutional, as they enable councils to act as a form of impeachment without due process. She claims the law violates her right to a fair legal proceeding and undermines the independence of the judiciary. In August 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to review the bulk of Newman’s challenge to her suspension. The court’s decision, reported by the ABA Journal, left her petition unresolved, prompting her to seek higher judicial review.#us_supreme_court #judicial_conduct_and_disability_act #judge_pauline_newman #aba_journal #law360
Oldest Active Federal Judge Seeks Supreme Court to Reinstatement Judge Pauline Newman, the oldest active federal judge, has formally petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her two-year suspension from hearing new cases. The suspension, which began nearly two years ago, stems from an investigation into her cognitive abilities and her refusal to comply with requests for medical evaluations from her colleagues. Newman has consistently argued that the suspension constitutes an unconstitutional removal of a federal judge, a power reserved exclusively for Congress through impeachment. In her latest filing with the Supreme Court, Newman reiterated her position that the suspension undermines judicial independence and violates constitutional safeguards. She contends that the process used to suspend her—without formal charges or a congressional vote—exceeds the authority of the judiciary and risks setting a dangerous precedent. The suspension has effectively barred her from presiding over new cases, though she has continued to handle appeals and other legal matters. Newman’s case has drawn significant attention due to her age and the high-profile nature of the dispute. At 88, she is the oldest active federal judge in the country, and her legal battle highlights tensions between judicial autonomy and institutional accountability. Critics argue that the suspension was necessary to address concerns about her ability to perform her duties, while supporters of Newman claim the process was politically motivated and lacked due process. The Supreme Court’s response to her petition could have far-reaching implications for how judicial misconduct is handled in the U.S. legal system.#u_s_supreme_court #judge_pauline_newman #judicial_independence #judicial_misconduct #federal_courts
