Pauline Newman does not think about retirement. At 95, this magistrate does not intend to hang up her black dress, despite the doubts of her colleagues about her abilities. It must be said that in the United States, federal judges enjoy lifelong positions.
Appointed by former Republican President Ronald Reagan, this recognized expert in intellectual property law is the oldest of some 870 federal judges.
Concerned colleagues
This former researcher, doctor in chemistry, has been practicing since 1984 in a federal appeal court specializing in technical subjects (patents, public contracts or veterans’ pensions, etc.), which require a sharp intellect. “Many court employees are worried because Judge Newman can no longer perform certain simple daily tasks, such as identifying herself on the computer network,” wrote three of her colleagues in a document sent to justice on Tuesday.
The future of the magistrate will therefore be played out where she made her career: in the courtrooms. The magistrate has indeed lodged a complaint against the officials of her court after the establishment of a commission to assess whether she suffers from “mental or physical incapacity”. In her complaint, she points out that, according to the Constitution, only Congress can remove a federal judge. This episode, the outcome of which remains very uncertain, above all reminds us of the extent to which American presidents can leave a lasting mark on the courts of their country.
