Federal Circuit judges have urged the D.C. Circuit to reject Judge Pauline Newman’s request to unseal documents related to her suspension, asserting that the materials are of “questionable relevance” and are expected to be released with redactions soon.
Judge Newman, 97, filed the request earlier this month as part of her appeal of the dismissal of her lawsuit challenging her suspension. She argued that the sealed documents, which include filings she made during the investigation, reveal violations of her rights and detail threats of sanctions from her colleagues if the materials were disclosed.
However, the Federal Circuit judges maintained Thursday that judicial conduct proceedings are legally required to remain confidential to ensure fairness and integrity, with disclosure only authorized by the chief judge of the court overseeing the investigation. Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore has not approved the release, they said.
The court indicated that the documents would be released with redactions within weeks, likely after the holidays, potentially rendering Newman’s request moot.
