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submitted 1 year ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

A 96-year-old U.S. federal appeals court judge was barred Wednesday from hearing cases for a year after a panel said she refused to undergo medical testing amid concerns that she is no longer mentally fit to serve on the bench.

It’s the latest development in an unusually public and bitter fight over whether Judge Pauline Newman should continue to serve on the Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that has sparked a lawsuit and turned judges against one another.

Newman, a President Ronald Reagan appointee who has been on the court for nearly four decades, insists that she remains physically and mentally fit to decide matters of the law, and has accused her colleagues of making baseless claims in an effort to push her out because of her age.

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[-] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml 88 points 1 year ago

America in general seems to have a massive problem with absolute geriatrics refusing to make way for the next generation. Their politicians, lawmakers, judges, all older than the hills.

[-] Fisk400@feddit.nu 32 points 1 year ago

It's because the system for choosing successors are bad and random. If she quits now her successor will be a Biden appointee and she doesn't want that. If they set a retirement age and regularly had roundups where each party gets to choose judges based on number of seats they have things would be a lot more shill.

That is if republicans honestly engaged with the systems. We know they don't which is why nothing will ever work.

[-] paultimate14@lemmy.world 31 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

She's 96. She should have retired when Bush was president of that was her concern.

[-] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

OK, that explains a lot actually. Do you think she'll try and hold on another four years if Biden gets reelected?

[-] Fisk400@feddit.nu 17 points 1 year ago

Lets see if she can hold on until the election. at 96 you shouldn't bet on them being around for another month. she will try to hold on for as long as possible but the grim reaper generally dont care about your schedule.

[-] BorgDrone@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago

At 96 she shouldn’t buy any green bananas.

[-] ohlaph@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

We really do. The millennials need to step up. I'm finishing my degree and am considering a post bachelorette in political science or something similar to get into politics. It's frustrating to see such an aged population making decisions they won't have to live with.

[-] SheeEttin@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago
[-] ohlaph@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Damn autocorrect.. yea. I'm going to leave it because I deserve that.

[-] Tedesche@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Mitt Romney just stepped down, citing that very reason. The U.K. has a freaking House of Lords and a Monarch that serves no purpose. Don’t throw stones.

[-] OpenPassageways@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Some of those people either can't afford to retire or have actually returned to the workforce due to a combination of inflation, inadequate safety nets, and the fact that 401ks have not filled the gap created when companies stopped providing pensions.

[-] GentlemanLoser@ttrpg.network 85 points 1 year ago

Why aren't we more suspicious of the personality type that wants to work til they die at their post?

[-] alvvayson@lemmy.world 66 points 1 year ago

"Life appointments" should really only extend to something like age 75, with yearly mental fitness tests after the social security age.

[-] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 39 points 1 year ago

she was asked to undergo medical fitness test but refused

[-] A_A@lemmy.world 44 points 1 year ago

This is proof enough of senility.
(in context and in my opinion).

[-] ChaosCharlie@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 year ago

The lady doth protest too much, methinks

[-] CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago

I agree with it except for the mental fitness test.

Tests like that is only going to be used as political fodder.

Just set it at an age. You get to finish out the year's session after you turn 70 but after that, you aren't qualified. Go enjoy your life!

[-] BorgDrone@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago

Just link it to the legal retirement age.

[-] REdOG@lemmy.world 52 points 1 year ago

Sounds like she has a problem being judged by others I don't believe it a coincidence.

[-] stopthatgirl7@kbin.social 35 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I do not understand why someone in their dang 90s does not retire. Spend your days like my great-grandma did before she passed: time with your family and drinking whiskey on your porch.

[-] electrogamerman@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

Money combined with low stress tasks, probably.

You can imagine the kind of tasks and stress she has that she can allow herself to work until 96.

You think a person in retail, engineering or whatever low to middle income position would want to work until 96?

[-] ohlaph@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago

96.. let that sink in. Way too old to making any legal decisions.

[-] anewbeginning@lemmy.world 28 points 1 year ago

96?! Just go home already.

[-] pigup@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

She belongs in a museum. Jfc GTFO you dinosaur.

[-] Yokozuna@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I see what they're doing. Stress her out enough to kill her. Classic.

this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
210 points (99.1% liked)

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