Law & Crime
A judicial council that’s been battling against the nation’s oldest sitting federal judge — 97-year-old Pauline Newman — over a suspension she was given amid complaints related to her mental health says it’s uncovered “major problems, errors and oversights” in doctor examination reports that have been presented in her defense.
As previously reported by Law&Crime, Newman was suspended by the Federal Circuit last year on a temporary basis after complaints about her demeanor and actions at work sparked an investigation. Her judicial colleagues reported concerning behaviors including unexplained delays and habitual confusion, which led the circuit to launch its probe into the judge’s mental health.
Newman, who was appointed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, refused to cooperate and undergo independent neurological testing and failed to provide medical records during the investigation, prompting her temporary suspension. In December, she requested that documents related to the suspension and her mental capability, which had been sealed under a Dec. 4 gag order, be released to the public.
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