Judge Ana C. Reyes is a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, appointed by President Joe Biden in February 2023. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, she moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2000.
Before her appointment, Judge Reyes had a distinguished career as a litigation attorney specializing in international disputes at Williams & Connolly LLP from 2001 to 2023. She also dedicated significant time to pro bono work, assisting refugees and organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Human Rights First.
In 2016, she received the Legacy Award from Unlikely Heroes for her representation of young women escaping persecution. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the Judicial Leadership Award from the Hispanic National Bar Foundation in 2023.
Recently, Judge Reyes gained national attention for issuing a preliminary injunction that blocked the Trump administration’s proposed ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. In her 80-page ruling, she described the policy as discriminatory and demeaning, stating it targeted and undermined transgender service members.
The decision led to criticism from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who mocked Judge Reyes on social media, suggesting she should report to military bases as a “top military planner.”
Additionally, the Justice Department filed a complaint accusing Judge Reyes of misconduct during hearings on the transgender troop ban, alleging inappropriate questioning of a government lawyer’s religious beliefs.