Judge Overseeing Comey Case Reportedly Known for Being ‘Unflappable’

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The federal judge assigned to oversee former FBI Director James Comey’s criminal case is preparing to preside over what may become one of the most politically charged trials of President Donald Trump’s second term. U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee to the federal bench in Alexandria, Virginia, is expected to face considerable attention as the proceedings unfold. Known for his discipline and calm temperament—attributes partly credited to his fourth-degree black belt in Shotokan Fudokan karate—Nachmanoff has been described by colleagues as composed under pressure and focused on legal precision rather than political theater.

Comey, who was indicted last month on charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional proceeding, appeared before Nachmanoff for arraignment on Wednesday. The charges stem from allegations that he misled Congress in 2020 about his handling of the FBI’s early Trump–Russia investigation. Comey entered a plea of not guilty.

Legal professionals familiar with Judge Nachmanoff’s courtroom style describe him as even-tempered and methodical, a reputation built during years as a magistrate judge in the same courthouse before his elevation to the district court in 2021. Attorneys who have appeared before him told CNN he tends to keep politics out of his rulings and rarely reveals personal leanings.

One Virginia attorney, Kevin Carroll, remarked that Nachmanoff’s approach centers strictly on law and procedure, not ideology. Another defense lawyer, Robert Jenkins, said the judge that is committed to ensuring that justice is served, adding that if the Comey case proves politically motivated, Nachmanoff is likely to handle it accordingly and preserve the integrity of the court.

Appointed by President Biden early in his term, Nachmanoff was confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support, including votes from three Republican senators. Since then, he has presided over several notable cases but has kept a low public profile.

Among his recent rulings was a 2024 jury trial that resulted in the conviction of a former health care worker accused of unlawfully accessing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s medical files. Years earlier, while serving as a magistrate, he handled preliminary proceedings in the 2019 case of Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman—associates of Trump ally Rudy Giuliani—ordering both men released on bond following campaign finance-related charges.

As Comey’s case now lands on his docket, public attention is likely to intensify. The former FBI director’s prosecution, widely seen by conservatives as a long-overdue step toward accountability for abuses during the Trump–Russia probe, will test both the fairness of the judiciary and the limits of political influence in Washington’s legal system.

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