Who is the judge hearing Comey's case?

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By Sara Merken

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U.S. Senate/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo

The federal judge in Virginia assigned to hear former FBI Director James Comey's criminal case is an ex-public defender who advocated for sentencing reform and was appointed to the bench by President Trump's Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff in Alexandria, Virginia, was assigned to the case late on Thursday after Comey was indicted as Trump pursues a retribution campaign against his political enemies.

Comey is slated to make his first appearance before Nachmanoff on October 9, when he is arraigned on charges that he made false statements and obstructed a congressional proceeding. 

The indictment alleges that Comey misled Congress by falsely testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020 that he had not authorized anyone else to be an anonymous source in news reporting about an FBI investigation. Prosecutors say Comey faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted. Comey on Thursday said he had "great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I'm innocent."

Read more about the judge from Nate Raymond and Andrew Goudsward.

More coverage: 

Comey indictment escalates Trump's campaign to chill opposition 

Former FBI chief Comey charged as Trump ramps up campaign against critics

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

A greater share of large U.S. bankruptcy cases are being filed in Dallas and Fort Worth courthouses, with the Northern District of Texas surpassing busy courts in New York and New Jersey over the past twelve months.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas was the third-most active court for large business bankruptcies over 12 months from July 2024 to June 2025, accounting for 7% of cases involving more than $100 million in assets, according to statistics in an annual report by consulting firm Cornerstone Research. Read more from Dietrich Knauth.

President Trump unveiled sweeping new import tariffs, including 100% duties on branded drugs and 25% levies on heavy-duty trucks … Starbucks' chief technology officer Deb Hall Lefevre resigned without a permanent replacement, according to an internal memo sent to corporate staff on Monday, seen by Reuters … AstraZeneca said it will sell its diabetes and asthma drugs direct to cash-paying U.S. patients at a discount of up to 70% off list prices. Plus, a new Reuters special report digs into how Russia recruited Orthodox priests to sway Moldova's voters.

sara.merken@thomsonreuters.com

@saramerken

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