Federal judges in the United States enjoy lifetime tenure and, at 95, Pauline Newman does not intend to hang up her black robe, despite colleagues’ doubts about her abilities.
Appointed by former Republican president Ronald Reagan, the renowned expert in intellectual property law is the oldest of some 870 federal judges.
The former researcher, who holds a doctorate in chemistry, has been working since 1984 on a federal appeals court specialising in technical subjects such as patents, government contracts and veterans’ pensions, which require a sharp intellect.
But many court employees are concerned because Judge Newman can no longer perform certain simple daily tasks, such as logging on to the computer network, three of her fellow judges wrote in a document sent to the court on Tuesday.
Judge Newman’s future now lies where she has made her career: in the courtroom.
The magistrate has filed a complaint against the officials of her court after a commission was set up to assess whether she suffers from mental or physical incapacity.
In her complaint, she points out that, under the Constitution, only Congress can remove a federal judge.
This episode, the outcome of which remains highly uncertain, is a reminder of the extent to which US presidents can leave a lasting mark on their country’s courts.
It also illustrates the important place of older people in the workforce. In the absence of a universal pension scheme, many older Americans are forced to continue working. Others do so by choice, but their later careers can be difficult.
