Tanya Chutkan

Tanya Sue Chutkan (born July 5, 1962) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Judge Tanya Chutkan in 2006

Quotes

• A judge’s rulings should never be affected by political ideology or motivation. I can state unreservedly that should I be confirmed, my rulings will be based on text and precedent, and my decisions will be made solely on the application of the law to the facts
  • During her confirmation process according to Judge Tanya Chutkan, Who's Made Strong Statements About the Capitol Riot, to Rule on Trump's New Jan. 6 Lawsuit (October 19, 2021)
• There have to be consequences for participating in an attempted violent overthrow of the government beyond sitting at home
  • Quoted in "'There Have To Be Consequences': Judge Worries Capitol Rioters Get 'Slap On The Wrist'", Huffignton Post, October 3, 2021

• The country is watching to see what the consequences are for something that has not ever happened in the history of this country before
  • Quoted in "'There Have To Be Consequences': Judge Worries Capitol Rioters Get 'Slap On The Wrist'", Huffignton Post, October 3, 2021

• To compare the actions of people around the country protesting, mostly peacefully, for civil rights, to a violent mob seeking to overthrow the lawfully elected government is a false equivalency and downplays the very real danger that the crowd on January 6 posed to our democracy.
  • "Federal judge rejects comparisons between Capitol insurrection and racial justice unrest", CNN, October 4, 2021

• Whatever immunities a sitting President may enjoy, the United States has only one Chief Executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.
  • Quoted in "U.S. judge rejects Trump immunity claim in Jan. 6 criminal prosecution" The Washington Post (December 1, 2023)

• Defendant’s four-year service as commander in chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens.
  • Quoted in "Federal Judge Rejects Trump’s Immunity Claims in Election Case" The New York Times (December 1, 2023)

Quotes about her

• "Judge Chutkan can handle this quite quickly if she wants to and I think she probably will. She was a very efficient judge. She will give each side 10 days to brief it, have a hearing and decide it. She knows whatever she decides is not going to stay with her."
  • [1] Neil Eggleston, who served for a time as White House counsel under Obama, described Chutkan as an efficient jurist, adding that she likely knows her eventual ruling will be appealed by the losing party