Federal judges challenging Trump's agenda have legal history

Several federal judges involved in key lawsuits against former President Donald Trump's policies have a long history with him. These judges have addressed various legal challenges, including issues like the military service of transgender individuals and immigration policies. One notable judge is Paul Engelmayer, a U.S. District Judge from New York. He previously blocked Trump's attempts to change healthcare rules that affected abortions. Recently, he also stopped the government from accessing certain Treasury records. Tanya Chutkan, another District Judge in Washington, D.C., has had mixed rulings regarding Trump. She ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts related to climate grants while also denying a request to limit government power. Chutkan criticized Trump during his criminal case related to the 2020 election. Ana Reyes, also a U.S. District Judge, blocked Trump's ban on transgender individuals in the military, calling it “cruel irony.” However, she did side with Trump last month when she rejected requests from some fired inspectors general. Theodore Chuang, another judge appointed by Obama, condemned Trump’s attempts to dismantle a government agency. He previously ruled against Trump’s travel ban and restrictions on abortion access. Lastly, James Boasberg issued a ruling to block the deportation of suspected gang members, prompting Trump to call for his impeachment. Boasberg has also pushed for testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence regarding the January 6 Capitol events. Beryl Howell, yet another judge with a history of ruling against Trump, recently reinstated a NLRB member he had fired. Howell was also involved in earlier cases about Trump's alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election.