Washington's New Chief Judge to Oversee Secret Trump Proceedings

James "Jeb" Boasberg becomes the new chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, taking over from Judge Beryl Howell. As chief judge, Boasberg will have sole discretion over sealed federal grand jury proceedings, including those involving special counsel criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump's retention of classified documents and efforts to undo his 2020 election loss. Boasberg, who has served on the court since 2011, is well-prepared to handle the cases and lead the court through the intense scrutiny any indictment would bring, according to fellow judges and his former law clerks.