Who is Tanya Chutkan, US district judge for the District of Columbia District Court

March 15, 2025 Story by: Editor

Judge Tanya Chutkan was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in June 2014. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she pursued her undergraduate studies at George Washington University, earning a B.A. in Economics. She later obtained her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review and a Legal Writing Fellow.

Early Legal Career

After completing law school, Chutkan spent three years in private practice before transitioning to the District of Columbia Public Defender Service (PDS). As a trial attorney and supervisor, she handled a wide range of cases, including serious felony trials, and argued multiple appellate cases. Over the course of 11 years, she gained extensive courtroom experience, trying more than 30 cases.

Private Sector and Legal Specialization

Following her tenure at PDS, Chutkan joined Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, where she focused on litigation and white-collar criminal defense. During her 12 years at the firm, she represented antitrust class action plaintiffs as well as individual and corporate clients involved in complex state and federal litigation.

Contributions to the Legal Community

Between 1996 and 2000, Chutkan was an active member of the Steering Committee for the Criminal Law and Individual Rights Section of the District of Columbia Bar. She is also recognized for her contributions to legal education, frequently lecturing on trial techniques. Additionally, she has served as a faculty member at the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop, helping to train the next generation of legal professionals.

With a career spanning public defense, private litigation, and judicial service, Judge Chutkan continues to make a significant impact in the legal field.

Source: DCD USCourts