James E. Boasberg
James E. Boasberg Image of James E. Boasberg
Nonpartisan
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Tenure
2011 - Present
Years in position
13
Prior offices
United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
Education
Bachelor's
Yale College, 1985
Graduate
University of Oxford, 1986
Law
Yale Law School, 1990
Personal BirthplaceSan Francisco, Calif. Contact
Official website
James Emanuel Boasberg is the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He joined the court in 2011 after being nominated by President Barack Obama (D). Boasberg became chief judge of the court on March 17, 2023.[1]
Boasberg was a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts on May 19, 2014.[2][3][4] He served as presiding judge from 2020 to 2021. Boasberg's term ended on May 18, 2021.[5]
Early life and education
A native of San Francisco, California, Boasberg earned his bachelor's from Yale College in 1985, his M.St. from the University of Oxford in 1986. and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1990.[4]
Professional career
2011-Present: Judge, United States District Court for the District of Columbia
2023 - Present: Chief judge
2014-2021: Judge, United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
2020-2021: Presiding judge
2002-2011: Associate judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
2003: Visiting lecturer, George Washington University Law School
1996-2002: Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Columbia
1995-1996: Private practice, Washington, D.C.
1991-1994: Private practice, San Francisco, Calif.
1990-1991: Law clerk, Hon. Dorothy W. Nelson, United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit[4]
Judicial career
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (2014-2021)
Boasberg became a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on May 19, 2014. He was appointed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts. Boasberg served as the presiding judge of the court from January 1, 2020, to May 18, 2021.[6][7]
District of Columbia (2011-present)
Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: James E. Boasberg
Court: District of Columbia
Progress
Confirmed 270 days after nomination.
ApprovedNominated: June 17, 2010
ApprovedABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire:
ApprovedHearing: September 15, 2010
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedReported: February 3, 2011 December 1, 2010
ApprovedConfirmed: March 14, 2011
ApprovedVote: 96-0
Boasberg was nominated on June 17, 2010, to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by President Barack Obama (D) to a seat vacated by Judge Thomas Hogan. Announcing three appointments on the same day, Obama said collectively, "These distinguished individuals have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service throughout their careers. I am grateful for their decision to serve the American people from the District Court bench."[8]
The American Bar Association rated Boasberg Unanimously Qualified for the nomination. Hearings on Boasberg's nomination were held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 15, 2010, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on December 1, 2010. Boasberg's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the 111th United States Congress. President Obama resubmitted Boasberg's nomination on January 5, 2011, and his nomination was reported by Senator Leahy on February 3, 2011, without hearings. Boasberg was confirmed on a recorded 96-0 vote of the U.S. Senate on March 14, 2011, and he received his commission on March 17, 2011.[9][10][11] He became chief judge of the district court in on March 17, 2023.[1]
Judge rules against detaining asylum seekers for more than seven days (2018)
On July 2, 2018, Judge Boasberg issued a preliminary injunction barring the federal government from detaining asylum seekers at five U.S. field offices in Detroit, El Paso, Los Angeles, Newark, and Philadelphia. Boasberg ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated its own policy of granting a hearing or releasing asylum seekers within seven days if they have established a credible fear of persecution in their native country. Boasberg ordered the government to release or grant hearings for more than 1,000 asylum seekers who had been detained for more than seven days. He also said that while the lawsuit was ongoing, ICE could not detain asylum seekers for more than seven days without providing written explanations for an individual's detention following a personalized review of their claim.
https://ballotpedia.org/James_E._Boasberg