CAFC Asks Judge Newman to Show Cause Why Suspension Shouldn't Be Extended

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on July 9 unsealed a May 29 order compelling Judge Pauline Newman to show cause for why she shouldn't continue to be subject to a suspension from hearing new cases in light of her continued refusal to cooperate with her colleagues' investigation of her fitness to continue serving on the bench. The suspension is set to expire in September.

Judges Kimberly Moore, Sharon Prost and Richard Taranto gave Newman, 96, until June 28 to explain why her "continued refusal to cooperate" with the investigation "should not be met with a renewal of the one-year suspension from case assignments." The court didn't indicate whether Newman responded in time and declined to comment.

In a May 31 order also unsealed July 9, the court changed the date on which oral argument will be held regarding Newman's suspension. The date, time and location of the oral argument were redacted.

The CAFC Judicial Council imposed the one-year ban on new cases for Newman in September last year after finding that she obstructed the investigation of her fitness by refusing to submit for neurological testing (see 2309200024). Newman filed a lawsuit against the investigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which dismissed the case this week (see 2407090024).