Supreme Court Passes on Judge Newman’s Suspension Challenge (1)

The US Supreme Court Monday declined to review an appellate decision cutting short 98-year-old Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman‘s lawsuit seeking to end her lengthy suspension from hearing new cases.

Newman’s suit argues the investigation leading to her suspension—based on claims her cognitive abilities had declined—violated her due process rights and also should’ve been transferred to a regional circuit court where an impartial group of judges could’ve assessed the allegations. Both the US District Court for the District of Columbia and the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit have rejected her claims.

John Vecchione, who is part of Newman’s legal team at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, said the judge was “disappointed” but not giving up in her push to get reinstated.

“We’re looking at our options and we’re going to keep pursuing those options,” Vecchione said Monday shortly after getting off the phone with his client.

Newman, the nation’s oldest active federal judge, has served on the Federal Circuit since 1984. She’s known as a frequent dissenter, and is the most pro-patent owner voice on the court, according to a study by Marquette University Law School’s Jason Reinecke. She brought on conservative heavyweight lawyer Jonathan Mitchell for her Supreme Court petition.

The case is Newman v. Moore, U.S., No. 25-1101, cert. denied 6/15/26.