United States of America : Judicial ethics complaint by Department of Justice (DOJ) was filed against judge overseeing Trump military ban case.
The DOJ accuses Reyes of behaving in “hostile and egregious” ways, disrespecting a government attorney and not maintaining the impartiality expected of a judge, it said, according to Reuters. The complaint cites instances during hearings in which Reyes reportedly used strong language including “WTF” in disbelief and grilled an attorney about religion.
The complaint filed by Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. If the judge is determined to have acted unethically, she could be subject to disciplinary measures including a reprimand or formal censure.
The legal fight comes as Trump’s administration continues to be met with pushback over policies limiting transgender rights. His executive order issued last month asserts that transgender people do not meet the “high standards” of military service. Civil rights organizations have sued on behalf of transgender service members, contending that the ban is discriminatory.
Judge Reyes, who is a Biden appointee, will soon decide whether to put Trump’s order on hold while the lawsuit proceeds. The case has attracted national attention by showcasing continuing tensions between the judiciary and Trump’s administration around civil rights and policy decisions.
