In a legal saga as dramatic as any courtroom drama, U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, a venerable figure in the halls of justice at 96, has taken a bold stance against her suspension from the bench. Accusing her colleagues at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit of orchestrating a “pattern of harassment,” Newman has fervently defended her constitutional rights in a bid to preserve her lawsuit.
In a compelling plea to the Washington, D.C. federal court, Newman asserted the unconstitutionality of the law underlying her suspension. She painted a picture of ongoing mistreatment, detailing how her requests for basic accommodations, such as a legal assistant and adjustments to her clerical staff, were summarily denied. Even her exclusion from internal email communications within the court was cited as evidence of discrimination.
Newman’s legal team, led by attorney Greg Dolin of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, minced no words, labeling her suspension as a “stealth impeachment” driven by arbitrary and vague criteria. Dolin argued that such measures were not only unconstitutional but also wielded to serve predetermined agendas.
A stalwart in the realm of patent law, Newman’s dissenting opinions have left an indelible mark on the Federal Circuit bench since her appointment by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. However, her judicial career faced a sudden halt when Chief Judge Kimberly Moore publicly raised concerns about Newman’s mental and physical well-being.
The subsequent suspension, imposed by the circuit’s judicial council, mandated medical examinations and cast a shadow over Newman’s otherwise illustrious tenure. Newman, undeterred, took her fight to the courts, challenging the council’s actions as unconstitutional and challenging the Judiciary’s authority to self-regulate.
Despite earlier setbacks in the legal arena, Newman remains resolute, refusing to yield to what she perceives as an infringement on her rights. As the legal battle rages on, the outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the determination of a 96-year-old judge to uphold the principles of justice knows no bounds.
