Jamaica-born judge to preside over Trump’s election indictment

Jamaican-American Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan is set to preside over the latest case against former United States President Donald Trump who was yesterday indicted for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Born in Kingston in July 1962, Chutkan pursued her education at George Washington University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in 1987.

She was appointed to the federal court as a judge by President Barack Obama and won Senate confirmation 95-0.

Throughout her career, she has been involved in a number of high-profile cases.

Before her appointment to the federal bench, she worked at prestigious law firms, including Hogan and Harrison.

Chutkan also served as trial attorney and supervisor of public defender service for the District of Columbia before becoming a partner at the renowned law firm Boies, Schiller, and Fletcher.

Her husband, Peter Krauthamer, served as a judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia from 2012-2023.

She has established herself as a no-nonsense judge who has overseen a number of high-profile cases. She has handed sentences to several participants in the January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol, sometimes, going beyond the recommended sentence.