9th Circuit hotline addresses mental decline in aging federal judges
Colleagues who are worried about mental decline in federal judges in the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals can call a hotline to get advice on how to deal with the problem.
The hotline is one of several steps taken by the 9th Circuit to address the problem of age-related cognitive decline in federal judges who have lifetime appointments, the Associated Press reports. The court also holds seminars to teach chief judges about signs of cognitive impairment, encourages judges to submit to cognitive assessments, and asks judges to designate someone who can intervene when concerns arise.
There are no statistics on how many federal judges experience problems as they age, according to AP. “Anecdotes from judges and court observers, however, indicate it may be more than an isolated problem,” the story reports.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
