Ana C. Reyes

Last updated
Ana C. Reyes
Ana C. Reyes, U.S. District Court Judge.jpg
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Assumed office
February 21, 2023

Ana Cecilia Reyes (born 1974) is an Uruguayan-born American lawyer who has served as United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia since 2023. She was nominated to the position by President Joe Biden; and is both the first Latina and the first openly LGBT person to serve as a district court judge in Washington, D.C. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Reyes was born in 1974 in Montevideo, Uruguay. [2] She moved to Spain, and later immigrated to Louisville, Kentucky, as a child. [3] [4] After her arrival in the United States, her first-grade teacher helped her learn English. She received media attention in 2020 for reuniting with her first-grade teacher after over forty years. [3]

Reyes graduated from Transylvania University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude . From 1996 to 1997, Reyes worked for Feminist Majority Foundation on its unsuccessful drive to defeat the 1996 California Proposition 209, which sought to prohibit state governmental institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting, and public education. [5] [6]

Reyes then attended Harvard Law School, where she was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and a semi-finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition. [2] She graduated in 2000 with a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude. [7]

Reyes later received a master's in international public policy from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, with honors, in 2014. [4] [8]

Career

After law school, Reyes served as a law clerk for Judge Amalya Kearse of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2000 to 2001. She then entered private practice at the law firm Williams & Connolly, becoming a partner in 2009. [4] [8] Reyes focused on cross-border legal issues and international arbitration, while also taking on pro bono work to represent asylum seekers and refugee organizations. [9]

The Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia named her "Woman Lawyer of the Year" in 2017. [3] In September 2021, Chief Judge Beryl Howell asked Reyes to serve as the Chair of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel. [10]

Notable cases as lawyer

In 2008, on behalf of the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Reyes filed a brief in support of three Guinean women seeking asylum in the U.S. [11]

In 2018, Reyes was part of the legal team challenging the Trump administration's restrictions on refugees entering the United States through ports of entry. [12]

In 2021, Reyes represented Spain in a dispute over the company's decision to withdraw economic incentives for renewable projects. [13]

In 2021, Reyes represented pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. in a suit alleging that diabetes drugs manufactured by the company cause pancreatic cancer. [14]

In 2022, Reyes represented a Medtronic subsidiary in a court case by patients alleging they were injured by the company's hernia mesh products. [15]

Federal judicial service

Reyes in 2022 Ana C. Reyes (Judge).jpg
Reyes in 2022

On April 27, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Reyes to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She had been recommended for the position by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. [1]

On May 19, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Reyes to the seat being vacated by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. [16] A hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 22, 2022. [17] On August 4, 2022, her nomination reported out of committee by a 11–9–2 vote. [18] On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate; she was renominated later the same day. [19] On February 2, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–9 vote. [20] On February 15, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–47 vote. [21] Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a 51–47 vote. [22] She received her judicial commission on February 21, 2023. [7]

Tenure

Reyes was sworn in on February 22, 2023. [23] She became the first Hispanic woman and openly LGBTQ person to serve as a district court judge in Washington, D.C. [24] [25] [4]

Position on Hunter Biden investigation

Reyes criticized the Department of Justice in the House Select Committee on April 5, 2024, for refusing to allow attorneys involved in the Hunter Biden investigation to comply with subpoenas issued by House Republicans. She accused the Department of Justice of hypocrisy in prosecuting Trump administration official Peter Navarro, noting that he had been imprisoned for not complying with House committee subpoenas. [26] [27]

Trump tax return whistleblower case

In January 2024, Reyes sentenced Charles Littlejohn, who leaked the tax returns of Donald Trump along with several other wealthy taxpayers to the media, to five years in prison. Reyes denounced Littlejohn's decision to leak Trump's tax returns as a "an attack on our constitutional democracy", stating:

"When you target the sitting president of the United States, you’re targeting the office and when you’re targeting the office of the president of the United States, you're targeting democracy — you’re targeting our constitutional system of government."

Reyes added that Trump was under no legal obligation to release his tax returns, compared the whistleblower's actions to the January 6 United States Capitol attack. [28] During the trial, Reyes told Littlejohn that "I have reacted so strongly to your case because it engenders the same fear that Jan. 6 does". Reyes' decision to sentence Littlejohn to five years in prison received attention for being over six times longer than the four-to ten-month sentence recommended United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines. [29]

Assa Abloy antitrust case

In 2023, Reyes presided over an antitrust case brought by the DOJ against Assa Abloy's acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ hardware and home improvement (HHI) division. [30] Reyes reportedly favored the lawsuit ending in a settlement rather than a trial. During the trial, Reyes indicated interest in reinterpreting the burden of proof in 'litigate-the fix' merger cases: while the burden is generally on merging companies to prove a deal would not harm competition, Reyes expressed interest for putting the burden of proof on DOJ lawyers. [31]

Personal life

Reyes is known to bring her pet Golden Retriever, Scout, to work. [32]

Selected publications

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ketanji Brown Jackson</span> US Supreme Court justice since 2022 (born 1970)

Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson is an American lawyer and jurist who is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Jackson was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden on February 25, 2022, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn into office that same year. She is the first black woman and the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Michelle Childs</span> American judge (born 1966)

Julianna Michelle Childs is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She was previously a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina from 2010 to 2022 and a judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court from 2006 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claria Horn Boom</span> American judge (born 1969)

Claria Denise Horn Boom is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. She is a member of the United States Sentencing Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryellen Noreika</span> American judge (born 1966)

Maryellen Noreika is an American lawyer and jurist serving since 2018 as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Kay Vyskocil</span> American judge (born 1958)

Mary Kay Vyskocil is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and a former United States bankruptcy judge for the same court. President Donald Trump nominated her to the district bench in 2018 and again in 2019, and she was confirmed in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie D. Davis</span> American judge (born 1967)

Stephanie Dawkins Davis is an American lawyer who is serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She previously served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and a former United States magistrate judge of the same court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamika Montgomery-Reeves</span> American judge (born 1981)

Tamika Renee Montgomery-Reeves is an American lawyer who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She previously served as an Associate Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer H. Rearden</span> American judge (born 1970)

Jennifer Hutchison Rearden is an American lawyer from New York who is serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Ho</span> American judge (born 1977)

Dale Edwin Ho is an American lawyer who is serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to becoming a judge, he was the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's voting rights project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Geraghty</span> American judge (born 1974)

Sarah Elisabeth Geraghty is an American lawyer from Georgia who serves as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She previously was senior counsel for the Southern Center for Human Rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ana de Alba</span> American judge (born 1979)

Ana Isabel de Alba is an American attorney who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She previously served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California from 2022 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha C. Merle</span> American judge (born 1983)

Natasha Clarise Merle is an American lawyer from New York who serves as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

President Joe Biden began his presidency with fewer vacancies to fill than his predecessor. He pledged to nominate people with diverse backgrounds and professional experience; further he pledged to nominate the first black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen H. Locher</span> American judge (born 1978)

Stephen Henley Locher is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa since 2022. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy L. Maldonado</span> American judge (born 1975)

Nancy Lee Maldonado is an American lawyer from Chicago who has served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 2024. She previously served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2022 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana Douglas</span> American judge (born 1975)

Dana Marie Douglas is an American attorney who is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 2019 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kymberly Evanson</span> American judge (born 1977)

Kymberly Kathryn Evanson is an American lawyer who serves as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Kobick</span> American judge (born 1983)

Julia Eleanor Kobick is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts since 2023. She previously served as deputy state solicitor in the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rita F. Lin</span> American judge (born 1978)

Rita Faye Lin is an American lawyer who is serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She previously served as an associate judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramon Reyes</span> American judge (born 1966)

Ramon Ernesto Reyes Jr. is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York since 2023. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2006 to 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Chibbaro Jr., Lou (2023-02-17). "Ana Reyes confirmed as first LGBTQ federal judge in D.C." Washington Blade. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  2. 1 2 "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Page, Sydney (December 1, 2020). "A D.C. lawyer learned English as a child from a teacher who tutored her each day. She found her to say thank you". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ali, Shirin (April 27, 2022). "President Biden's judicial nominee could become the first Hispanic woman and LGBTQ person to serve on the court". The Hill . Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  5. Ness, Carol (15 September 1996). "Two faces of Prop. 209: More alike than different Honor students from immigrant families back opposite sides". San Francisco Examiner; San Francisco, Calif. [San Francisco, Calif]. pp. C1 via ProQuest.
  6. Morse, Rob (8 August 1996). "The boys of Freedom Summer '96". San Francisco Examiner; San Francisco, Calif. [San Francisco, Calif]. pp. A1 via ProQuest.
  7. 1 2 Ana C. Reyes at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges , a publication of the Federal Judicial Center .
  8. 1 2 "President Biden Names Seventeenth Round of Judicial Nominees" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  9. Tillman, Zoe (October 31, 2011). "Ana Reyes". The National Law Journal & Legal Times; New York. Vol. 34, no. 9. p. 20 via ProQuest.
  10. "Ana Reyes to Chair Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel - Williams & Connolly LLP".
  11. Feuer, Alan (2008-06-12). "Court Rejects Decisions of Immigration Board". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  12. Ryan, Tim; Mineiro, Megan (2019-08-02). "Port-of-Entry Asylum Requirement Tossed by Federal Judge". Courthouse News. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  13. Mindock, Clark (2021-04-01). "Spain Wins Pause of $66M Energy Investor Award - Law360". Law360. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  14. Curley, Mike (2021-04-08). "Outdated Experts Doom Suit Tying Diabetes Drug To Cancer - Law360". Law360. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  15. Field, Emily (June 8, 2022). "Medtronic Hernia Mesh Suits Transferred To Mass. By JPML - Law360 Healthcare Authority". Law360. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  16. "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. May 19, 2022.
  17. "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. June 22, 2022.
  18. "Results of Executive Business Meeting – August 4, 2022" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  19. "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. January 3, 2023.
  20. "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 2, 2023" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  21. "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Ana C. Reyes to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia)". United States Senate. February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  22. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Ana C. Reyes, of the District of Columbia to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia)". United States Senate. February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  23. "Ana C. Reyes Sworn in as United States District Judge" (PDF). dcd.uscourts.gov. February 22, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  24. Stern, Seth. "First Latina, LGBTQ Judge Confirmed to DC District Court". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  25. Raymond, Nate (April 27, 2022). "Exclusive: Biden's latest judicial nominees dominated by public defenders". Reuters. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  26. Barnes, Daniel; Richards, Zoë (April 6, 2024). "Judge berates Justice Department for defying House GOP subpoenas tied to Biden impeachment inquiry". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  27. "'Are you kidding me?': Biden-appointed judge torches DOJ for blowing off Hunter Biden-related subpoenas from House GOP". Politico. April 5, 2024.
  28. Faler, Brian (2024-01-29). "Trump tax return leaker sentenced to 5 years in prison". Politico. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  29. Lord, Bob (2024-05-19). "A Whistleblower Exposed Trump's Tax Avoidance. Biden Should Pardon Him". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  30. Koenig, Bryan (2024-06-13). "At Assa Abloy Trial: Air Of Secrecy, Judge's Cryptic Warning - Law360 UK". Law360. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  31. Shaffer, Sara (2023-05-08). "The Antitrust Agenda: How Judge Ana Reyes' Pro-Settlement Bent in Assa Abloy/Spectrum Brands Case Led to Mediation; May 12 Items on FTC Calendar; Key Takeaway from AELP Event". The Capitol Forum. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  32. Koenig, Bryan (2024-01-26). "Judge Reyes Talks Big Trials, Preparation And Dogs At Work - Law360". Law360. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
Legal offices
Preceded byJudge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
2023–present
Incumbent