Judge Nachmanoff, a federal district judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, was nominated by Joe Biden and confirmed in 2021.  He previously served more than a decade as a federal public defender for the same district and then as a magistrate judge. His courtroom style is described as calm, methodical, and fair‑minded, with a strong focus on legal principles rather than political drama.

The case at issue involves former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted in September 2025 on charges that include making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.  The indictment stems from a 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony where the government alleges Comey misled the committee about authorizing a leak of FBI information. Comey pleaded not guilty and a tentative trial date has been set for early January 2026.

Assigning Judge Nachmanoff to oversee this trial raises notable issues given its high political stakes. Former President Donald J. Trump immediately criticized the assignment, calling the judge “a crooked Joe Biden‑appointed judge,” thereby injecting a partisan tone.  Legal observers, however, emphasize that the assignment was random and that Judge Nachmanoff’s record suggests he is well equipped to handle complex, high‑profile litigation with impartiality. His background as a former public defender is seen by some as an asset—offering him insight into both defense and prosecution perspectives.

In sum, the combination of the politically charged nature of the case, the high profile of the defendant, and the scrutiny on the judge make this trial one of the most consequential of the era. Judge Nachmanoff’s reputation for fairness and legal rigor positions him as a stabilizing figure in this arena. Observers will be watching closely not only the outcome for Comey, but also how the trial is managed and adjudicated by the court under intense public, political, and media scrutiny.