A new judge takes over leadership of the U.S. trial court in Washington on Friday, inheriting oversight of certain issues that may arise in the special counsel investigations involving former President Trump.
James “Jeb” Boasberg becomes chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, replacing Judge Beryl Howell as her seven-year term comes to an end.
As chief judge, Boasberg is poised to rule on certain legal arguments raised in the grand jury probes, including efforts to restrict witnesses from testifying. Grand jury proceedings are kept from public view. Boasberg, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, has served on the court since 2011. He previously was picked in 2002 by Republican President George W. Bush for the local D.C. Superior Court. Both times he was easily confirmed by the U.S. Senate.Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November to handle the two Trump investigations, is presenting evidence to multiple grand juries.
Howell praised Boasberg’s readiness to take on high-profile and novel issues, “whether arising out of the grand jury or not, that draw the spotlight of national attention.” Boasberg has faced tough assignments before. In 2020 and 2021, he presided over the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which hears government requests for secret surveillance warrants. His tenure came after the Justice Department’s internal watchdog had highlighted failures in the department’s process for seeking the secret warrants.
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