Pauline Newman is an icon of American patent and trademark law and has a colorful biography. However, even at an advanced age, she simply cannot stop working. And now she’s in trouble because of it.
At age 96, the oldest federal judge in the United States was suspended from service on Wednesday due to questions about her mental competence after refusing an examination. A survey of court staff revealed evidence that Judge Pauline Newman, appointed in 1984 by then-President Ronald Reagan, “may be suffering from significant mental problems, including memory loss, poor comprehension and confusion,” the judicial council said.