The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal brought by a 98-year-old federal judge who had been suspended amid mental fitness concerns that were brought by colleagues.

Pauline Newman appealed her case to the nation’s highest court in March after she was suspended by her colleagues on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit three years ago over the mental fitness concerns. 

The Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for rejecting the case, but it comes after Newman declined to comply with an investigation into her mental fitness and pointed to three mental tests by three separate doctors regarding her fitness to serve, insisting she is still fit to serve.

Newman is a Reagan appointee and became a judge on the newly created Federal Circuit in 1984. The circuit hears appeals on specialty topics, such as intellectual property and government contracts. She became known as the “Great Dissenter” for her opinions on patent law.

According to the Constitution, federal judges serve in their position and receive a salary for life, unless they’re impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate. While Newman’s fellow judges have not removed her, they have prevented her from hearing new cases since early 2023.

Newman’s colleagues also attempted to persuade her to retire but moved to suspend her under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act after she failed to step down.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.