On Friday, August 29, 2025, Reuters reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit extended the suspension of Judge Pauline Newman, aged 98, for an additional year. The decision follows her refusal to comply with an internal investigation assessing her fitness to serve on the bench.
The Federal Circuit’s Judicial Council, composed of the court’s active judges, adopted a recommendation to continue the suspension until Newman agrees to undergo a series of proposed neurological tests.
Newman, appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, is the longest-serving judge on the Federal Circuit and has not opted for senior status, a form of semi-retirement available to federal judges. Known for her expertise in patent law and frequent dissenting opinions, she serves on the Washington, D.C.-based court, which handles significant intellectual property cases involving major corporations.
The suspension stems from concerns raised by Chief Judge Kimberly Moore in 2023, when orders were made public, citing signs of significant cognitive and physical impairments in Newman. The court initially suspended her later that year after she declined to cooperate with the investigation into her fitness.
A special committee of three Federal Circuit judges recommended in July 2025 that the suspension be extended for another year.
Newman has asserted her fitness to serve and provided neurological reports supporting her mental capacity. However, the court stated on Friday that conflicting reports about her health justify the requirement for standard neuropsychological examinations.
Newman challenged her suspension legally, but a judge dismissed her case in 2024, and a separate federal appeals court in Washington upheld that ruling the week prior to the latest decision.
Source: Reuters
