Judge David Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (and former Chief Judge of the Circuit) is taking senior status (or as we would call it supernumerary status), which is effectively partial retirement. Those who recall the whole Clinton-Lewinsky-Starr saga, should recall that Judge Sentelle was one of the three judges who had appointed their former colleague Ken Starr to lead the Whitewater investigation as independent counsel.
Many will not know that Judge Sentelle wrote a book titled Judge Dave and the Rainbow People. I have read excerpts from it, and it is a funny and yet informative book. If you can get your hands on the book, I would recommend it. The Wikipedia entry I linked is quite accurate, and I will just leave you with one quote:
The book includes several humorous trips by the court to the gathering, including a jury view and some later inspections. Sentelle recounts the discomfort he felt at being videotaped while chatting with a pretty nude female hippie, and the effect it might have on his upcoming confirmation hearings to the United States Court of Appeals. He also talks of an elephant roaming around the North Carolina forest and an almost mythical Shanti Sena (Rainbow peace keeper) who seemed to appear out of thin air anytime there was trouble.
Judge Sentelle also taught for a while as an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law when I was attending it, but alas I could not fit his course into my schedule. I did, however, have the honor of taking two courses from Judges Ginsburg and Randolph, both of whom have also taken senior status.
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