On Saturday, March 29, 2025, the New York Post reported that the daughter of DC District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg is employed by a nonprofit organization that has received substantial government funding and opposes the Laken Riley Act. Katharine Boasberg works for Partners in Justice, a group whose founder publicly supported her father’s recent judicial decision to block the Trump administration from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members.
Katharine Boasberg’s role at Partners in Justice involves conducting capacity-building work with public defender offices nationwide. The organization has recently come under scrutiny following Boasberg’s assignment to a case involving the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which the Trump administration aimed to use for the deportation of suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang to a prison in El Salvador.
Following the assignment, Partners in Justice removed her biography from its website. Recent tax filings indicate that the nonprofit received over $3.3 million in government grants in 2023, accounting for approximately half of its total revenue. The group is known for its pro-immigrant stance, as reflected in social media posts from its founder, Emily Galvin-Almanza. On March 15, Galvin-Almanza tweeted her approval of Judge Boasberg’s temporary restraining order against the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
In a recent video on social media, Galvin-Almanza criticized the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with specific crimes. She described the law as “horrible” and “cruel,” asserting that it limits judges’ powers in cases involving criminal migrants.
Elon Musk, chief of the Department of Government Efficiency and a close adviser to former President Trump, expressed concern regarding Katharine Boasberg’s affiliation with Partners in Justice. His remarks followed allegations that the organization provides legal advice and representation to undocumented immigrants, including members of violent gangs like MS-13. However, Partners in Justice clarified on its website that its “Client Advocates” do not offer legal representation or advice but instead assist public defenders by providing social services and support.
The nonprofit did not respond to inquiries about whether its client advocates work with alleged members of the Tren de Aragua or MS-13 gangs. Last week, Trump criticized Judge Boasberg as “highly conflicted” in relation to the Alien Enemies Act case, though he did not mention his daughter’s employment with Partners in Justice.
The potential conflict of interest regarding Judge Boasberg’s daughter raises questions about whether he should recuse himself from the case. According to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, judges are required to disqualify themselves in situations where their impartiality might reasonably be questioned, particularly if a close relative has an interest that could be significantly influenced by the case’s outcome.
On Friday, the Trump administration filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn Boasberg’s temporary restraining order against the use of the Alien Enemies Act. This petition coincided with Boasberg’s decision to extend the restraining order until April 12, 2025.
Source: New York Post
