Concerns about Judge Pauline Newman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, who continued to serve as a judge even at the age of nearly 100, amplified, and as colleagues complained that he should be excluded from work, Newman filed a legal lawsuit and is strongly fighting it.
According to AFP on the 17th (local time), voices are growing toward Judge Newman, who turned 95 this year, that he should step down from the judgeship.
Judge Newman, who has reached the age of 95, has been working in the US court since 1984, and the voice of concern about him continues to come out.
In particular, earlier this month, a panel of fellow judges filed an opinion with the Judicial Council, claiming that Newman could no longer perform his duties due to his mental and physical disabilities.
Newman still maintains that he is able to handle the case and that he can work as productively as his fellow judges on the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
A three-member judicial committee admitted that despite Newman’s claims, his ability to do the job had declined. “Several staff members of the court have reported concerns that Judge Newman cannot remember how to perform simple tasks, such as logging into a computer network,” they said.
“Many who interacted with Judge Newman in the course of his work raised concerns about his comprehension, confusion, short-term memory loss, agitation, and lack of concentration,” he added.
In response, the judicial committee recommended treatment to a neurologist to evaluate whether he was suffering from cognitive impairment and ordered him to submit the results.
On the 23rd, the Judiciary Committee is expected to make a final decision on retaining his judgeship.
Having served as a judge for nearly 40 years, beginning in 1984, Newman is a leading authority on intellectual property law and is known for delivering several groundbreaking decisions.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.