DOJ sends complaint about federal judge’s conduct in trans military ban case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a written complaint against U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes with the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Sri Srinivasan. This action comes after a tense case between the Trump administration and two LGBTQ groups, where the DOJ alleges that Judge Reyes displayed misconduct during the proceedings.

The case in question, Nicolas Talbott et al. v. Donald J. Trump et al., involved two LGBTQ groups challenging the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders banning transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military. In their complaint, the DOJ accuses Judge Reyes of compromising the dignity of the proceedings and potentially showing bias, which raises concerns about her ability to preside over the case impartially.

During the proceedings, Judge Reyes listed several executive orders signed by President Trump related to gender identity and LGBTQ rights. She criticized the administration for policies that restricted transgender individuals’ rights, including access to homeless shelters and the ability to serve in the military. The DOJ’s complaint specifically points out instances where Judge Reyes questioned DOJ attorneys in a manner that was deemed inappropriate and potentially biased.

One incident highlighted in the complaint involved Judge Reyes asking a DOJ attorney what Jesus would say about denying entry to homeless shelters for certain groups of people. The DOJ argued that this line of questioning put the attorney in an uncomfortable position and could have been seen as an attempt to inject personal beliefs into the proceedings.

Another incident cited in the complaint was when Judge Reyes used a rhetorical exercise to draw parallels between banning trans individuals from military service and banning UVA law graduates from her courtroom. The DOJ alleged that this exercise undermined the dignity of the courtroom and counsel, as well as being unfair to the attorney involved.

Although Judge Reyes did commend DOJ lawyer Jason Lynch at times during the proceedings, the DOJ still believes that her conduct warrants further investigation and potential remedial measures. The complaint requests that appropriate action be taken to address the alleged violations and ensure the integrity of the judicial process.

While U.S. District Court judges hold lifetime appointments, Chief Judge Srinivasan could potentially reprimand Judge Reyes or suggest that she recuse herself from the case. The outcome of this complaint remains to be seen, but it underscores the importance of upholding impartiality and decorum in the courtroom.