A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit expressed skepticism regarding 97-year-old Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's challenge to her suspension. Newman contended that a statute permitting courts to self-police instances of judicial misconduct and disability was unconstitutional in all cases. Her attorney argued that judges could only be removed from their duties if they voluntarily resigned or were impeached, a position that raised concerns among the panel. The oral arguments also served to clarify the court's advisory stance on handling judges who are incapacitated, sometimes referred to as "comatose judges." The case has drawn attention for its implications on judicial discipline and the limits of court authority in managing judges' conduct and capacity.