Aging Judges Under Scrutiny in US Courts

The oldest sitting federal judge, 95-year-old Judge Pauline Newman, appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, is facing an investigation by colleagues into whether she is still capable of performing her job. The investigation was prompted by signs of cognitive and physical impairment, delayed filing opinions, and missed deadline filings. Newman is pushing back against the allegations, and allies of Newman are calling the court orders "tragic" and "ridiculous." It is highly unusual for a judge to face a complaint from a colleague on the bench, especially on an issue as delicate as his or her competence to serve.