Judge James Boasberg
D.C. Circuit U.S. District Court
James Emanuel “Jeb” Boasberg was born in February 1963 in San Francisco, California, but grew up in Washington, D.C. He earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master of Studies from Oxford University, and received his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. He clerked at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before entering into private practice, first in San Francisco and then in the District of Columbia.
He joined the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and spent four years as a prosecutor specializing in homicides. He became an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, serving in both the civil and criminal divisions and the domestic violence branch. He was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by President Barack Obama, confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission in March 2011.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Boasberg to also serve on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a term that began in May 2014. Boasberg became chief judge of the D.C. District Court in March 2023.
Boasberg is married to Elizabeth Leslie Manson.
In the News…
Chief District Court Judge James Boasberg rejected a request earlier this week from 22 states and the District of Columbia for an injunction to block the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families from sharing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) information with the Department of Homeland Security. The administration policy allows records to be shared among federal agencies to ensure program eligibility and verify the immigration status or citizenship of recipients.
Judge Boasberg wrote that, while the plaintiffs’ logic “seems plausible to the Court, it cannot rest on its own intuitions.” He noted that DHS has not indicated plans to use TANF data for immigration enforcement.
“Rather than identifying government statements showing an intent to target immigrants, Plaintiffs proffer vague, unsubstantiated predictions about immigrant communities’ fears that DHS will use disclosures for immigration enforcement.”
As the court case continues, the information-sharing policy went into effect on September 30.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Judge Boasberg today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable James Boasberg
U.S. District Court
E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse
333 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
