IPWatchdog is reporting that Chief Judge Kimberly Moore of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has filed a judicial misconduct complaint against long-serving Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, alleging that Newman is no longer able to discharge the duties of her office. The report also claims multiple sources at the court who dispute the claims.

The intrigue comes from claims that Chief Judge Moore is apparently willing to drop her complaint if Newman assumes senior status. This is odd because as a senior judge, Newman would still be able to hear cases. In other words, if Newman went senior, any issues about her ability to discharge her duties would remain. Taking senior status would, however, open a spot on the Federal Circuit for President Biden to fill.

Newman, age 97, was a Reagan appointee to the court. She is known as a contrarian and frequent dissenter on the court. She has issued two dissents in argued cases (here and here) in just the past month. (A personal note: I took an IP theory class co-taught by Judge Newman in law school, and it was amazing.)