96-year-old federal judge suspended over concerns about mental fitness and refusal to cooperate with investigation

Judge Pauline Newman, 96, has been suspended from hearing cases on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for at least one year.
The suspension comes after Newman refused to comply with a court order to undergo medical testing related to anonymous concerns raised about her mental fitness.
Newman insists she remains mentally competent and has filed a lawsuit challenging the investigation into her fitness.
The Federal Circuit's Judicial Council ruled her refusal to cooperate constituted misconduct warranting suspension.
The case has sparked debate about age limits and mental evaluations for federal judges who serve lifetime appointments.