The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear the case of Judge Pauline Newman, leaving in place her suspension from hearing new cases on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The unsigned order provided no explanation, and no justices publicly dissented.
Newman, who is 98 and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, challenged the suspension after a judicial investigation concluded there was reason to believe she suffered from a disability affecting her ability to perform her duties.
Federal Circuit Chief Judge Kimberly Moore and other judges suspended Newman from taking new cases in 2023 after she refused to undergo court-ordered medical examinations.
Newman has strongly denied claims of cognitive decline, arguing she remains fully capable of serving on the bench. Her attorneys cited medical evaluations describing her as a “Super-Ager” with no apparent cognitive impairment.
After lower courts rejected her lawsuit challenging the suspension, Newman asked the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing judicial authorities were improperly pressuring her to retire or take senior status.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case leaves the lower court rulings intact and allows the suspension to continue.
“I was disappointed the justices did not take this opportunity to protect judicial independence,” said attorney Andrew Morris, who represents Newman.
