{{Short description|American judge (born 1954)}} {{Lead too short|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox judge | name = Amy Berman Jackson | image = Amy Berman Jackson.jpg | alt = | caption = | office = Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | term_start = May 1, 2023 | term_end = | office1 = Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | term_start1 = March 18, 2011 | term_end1 = May 1, 2023 | appointer1 = Barack Obama | predecessor1 = Gladys Kessler | successor1 = Loren AliKhan | birth_name = Amy Sauber Berman<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/AmyJackson-PublicQuestionnaire.pdf|title=Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees|work=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|date=September 15, 2010}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|07|22}} | birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | spouse = {{marriage|Darryl Jackson|1989|2013|end=divorced}}<ref name="WashingtonPost"/> | children = 2, including Matt<ref name="WashingtonPost">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2015/10/07/washington-jeopardy-contestant-matt-jackson-is-a-pop-culture-sensation-and-the-son-of-a-federal-judge/ | title=Washington 'Jeopardy' contestant Matt Jackson is a pop-culture sensation — and the son of a federal judge | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=October 7, 2015 | access-date=October 8, 2015 | author=Heil, Emily |quote=The 23 year-old contestant's father is Washington attorney Darryl Jackson, who was a Commerce Department official under former President George W. Bush.}}</ref> | education = Harvard University (BA, JD) }} '''Amy Sauber Berman Jackson''' (born July 22, 1954) is an American lawyer serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
==Early life and education== Amy Berman was born on July 22, 1954, in Baltimore, Maryland,<ref>''Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory'', Vol. 17 (Martindale-Hubbell, 2001).</ref> She is the daughter of Mildred (Sauber) and Barnett Berman, a physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2004-02-09-0402090061-story.html |url-status=live |title=Dr. Barnett Berman, 81, internist, Army veteran |first=Joe |last=Nawrozki |website=Baltimore Sun |access-date=February 21, 2019 |date=February 9, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130203/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2004-02-09-0402090061-story.html |archive-date=February 19, 2019 }}</ref> She graduated from Harvard College in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts, ''cum laude'', and from Harvard Law School in 1979 with a Juris Doctor, ''cum laude''.<ref name="fjc.gov">{{FJC Bio|nid=1393656}}</ref>
==Career== After graduating from law school, Jackson served as a law clerk to Judge Harrison Lee Winter of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1979 to 1980. From 1980 to 1986, she served as an assistant United States attorney for the District of Columbia, where she received Department of Justice Special Achievement Awards for her work on high-profile murder and sexual assault cases in 1985 and 1986. From 1986 to 1994, Jackson was an associate and then a partner at the law firm Venable, Baetjer, Howard and Civiletti (now Venable LLP).<ref name="NamesThree">{{cite press release |title=President Obama Names Three to United States District Court, 6/17/10 |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/realitycheck/the-press-office/president-obama-names-three-united-states-district-court-61710 |work=White House Office of the Press Secretary |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2022 }}</ref>
From 2000 until her appointment as a federal judge, Jackson was a member of the law firm Trout Cacheris & Solomon PLLC in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in complex litigation, criminal investigations and defense, criminal trials, civil trials, and appeals. In 2009 Jackson represented nine-term Representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district William J. Jefferson in his corruption trial. In 2025, Jackson blocked the Trump administration's attempt to oust United States Office of Special Counsel head Hampton Dellinger.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/02/us/trump-news-zelensky-europe#dellinger-trump-watchdog-judge-jackson | title=Democrats Invite Fired Federal Workers to Trump's Congressional Address | work=The New York Times | date=March 2, 2025 | last1=Miller | first1=Maya C. }}</ref>
Jackson has served as a legal commentator for Fox News, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC.<ref name="ATTORNEYS, Amy Berman Jackson">{{cite web |url=http://www.troutcacheris.com/attorneys-a-jackson.php |title=ATTORNEYS, Amy Berman Jackson |access-date=March 28, 2011 |publisher=Trout Cacheris PLLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204130857/http://www.troutcacheris.com/attorneys-a-jackson.php |archive-date=February 4, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="fjc.gov" />
===Federal judicial service===
On June 17, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Jackson to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that was vacated by Judge Gladys Kessler, who assumed senior status in 2007.<ref name="NamesThree"/> She was unanimously rated "well qualified" for the post by the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary (the committee's highest rating).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/2011_build/federal_judiciary/ratings111.pdf |title=RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES: 11TH CONGRESS |publisher=American Bar Association |work=Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary }}</ref> Her nomination lapsed at the end of the 111th Congress;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/111th-congress/1868 |date=June 17, 2010 |title=PN1868 — Amy Berman Jackson — The Judiciary, 111th Congress (2009–2010) |work=Congress.gov }}</ref> Obama renominated her on January 5, 2011, at the beginning of the 112th Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/112th-congress/26 |title=PN26 — Amy Berman Jackson — The Judiciary 112th Congress (2011–2012) |work=Congress.gov|date=March 17, 2011 }}</ref> The United States Senate confirmed Jackson on March 17, 2011, by a 97–0 vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00045|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Amy Berman Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. District Judge)|publisher=United States Senate}}</ref> She received her commission the next day. She assumed senior status on May 1, 2023.<ref name="fjc.gov"/>
===Selected opinions===
====Labor law==== In ''Chamber of Commerce v. National Labor Relations Board'' (2012), Jackson ruled that the National Labor Relations Board had the statutory authority to promulgate a federal regulation requiring the posting of workplace posters informing workers of the right to organize and collectively bargain, but also struck down the portions of the regulation in which the NLRB made a "blanket advance determination that a failure to post [the notice] will always constitute an unfair labor practice" and tolled the statute of limitations in unfair labor practice actions involving a failures to post.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge Clears Rule on Union Posters at Work |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/03/business/judge-clears-rule-on-union-posters-at-work.html |agency=Associated Press |date=March 3, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Kevin Bogardus|date=March 2, 2012|title=Judge: NLRB can require employers to display union posters|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/213903-judge-nlrb-can-require-union-posters-in-the-workplace|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref><ref name=Rubenstein>{{cite news|author=Abigail Rubenstein|title=Biz Groups Urge DC Circ. Not To Reconsider NLRB Poster Rule|work=Law360|date=August 21, 2013|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/466667/biz-groups-urge-dc-circ-not-to-reconsider-nlrb-poster-rule}}</ref> The next year, the D.C. Circuit vacated the NLRB rule, finding that it contravened Section 8(c) of the National Labor Relations Act, the provision protecting most employers' speech.<ref name=Rubenstein/>
In 2015, Jackson ruled against a coalition of businesses who challenged an NLRB rule expediting union elections.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Wiessner |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/unions-election-idUSL1N10A3TX20150730 |title=Business groups lose challenge to NLRB election rules |work=Reuters |date=July 30, 2015 |access-date=October 5, 2022 }}</ref><ref>''[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=283076418686383814 Chamber of Commerce v. National Labor Relations Bd.]'', 118 F. Supp. 3d 171 (2015).</ref>
====EPA & Spruce Mine permit==== Also in March 2012, Jackson overturned a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that revoked a permit for the Spruce 1 mine project in Logan County, West Virginia, on the ground that the EPA did not have power under the Clean Water Act to rescind the permit.<ref>{{cite news|last=Broder|first=John M.|title=Court Reverses E.P.A. on Big Mining Project|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/24/science/earth/court-reverses-epa-saying-big-mining-project-can-proceed.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 24, 2012}}</ref> That ruling was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in April 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Broder|first=John M.|title=Court Backs E.P.A. Veto of Mining Permit|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/science/earth/court-backs-epa-veto-of-mining-permit.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 24, 2013}}</ref> On September 30, 2014, Jackson ruled in the EPA's favor, allowing its veto of the permit to stand.<ref>{{cite news|title=EPA wins another round on Spruce Mine veto|url=http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140930/GZ01/140939918 |first=Ken Jr. |last=Ward |access-date=October 5, 2022 |newspaper=The Charleston Gazette|date=September 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104604/http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140930/GZ01/140939918 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>
====Jesse Jackson Jr.==== Jackson presided at the August 2013 sentencing of former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife, Sandi Jackson. After accepting guilty pleas to misuse of campaign funds, she sentenced Representative Jackson to 30 months and his wife to 12 months in prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rollcall.com/2013/08/14/jesse-jackson-jr-and-wife-sentenced-to-jail-time/ |first=Matt |last=Fuller |title=Jesse Jackson Jr. and Wife Sentenced to Jail Time |date=August 14, 2013 |work=Roll Call}}</ref>
====''Bishop of D.C. v. Sebelius''==== In December 2013, in the case of ''Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Sebelius'', Jackson ruled for the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Washington in its constitutional test case challenge to the contraceptive mandate under the Affordable Care Act as applied to the church's District of Columbia employees.<ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite web|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2013/12/23/315288.htm |first1=Andrew |last1=Zajac |first2=Joel |last2=Rosenblatt |title=Judge Rejects Catholic Church Challenge to Obamacare Birth Control Coverage |date=December 23, 2013 |work=Bloomberg |via=insurancejournal.com |access-date=October 5, 2022 }}</ref> The United States Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies made accommodations for religious organizations, under which such organizations did not have to "provide, pay for, or facilitate access to contraception" if they certify their objection to doing so.<ref name="Bloomberg"/><ref name="Archdiocese">{{cite web |url=https://rewirenewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Roman-Cath.-Archb.-of-Wash.-Dist.-Ct.-Order.pdf |title=Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Sebelius |quote=1:13-cv-01441-ABJ |date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=October 5, 2022 }}</ref> Jackson rejected the archdiocese's argument that the act of "self-certifying" in itself constitutes a substantial burden on the archdiocese's right to freely exercise religion.<ref name="Archdiocese"/>
====Benghazi wrongful death case==== In May 2017, Jackson dismissed a wrongful death suit filed against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by the parents of two of the Americans killed in the 2012 attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, on the basis of the Westfall Act.<ref>{{cite news |first=Eric |last=DuVall |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/05/27/Judge-dismisses-wrongful-death-suit-against-Clinton-over-Benghazi/5811495910092/ |title=Judge dismisses wrongful death suit against Clinton over Benghazi |date=May 27, 2017 |work=UPI |access-date=October 5, 2022 }}</ref>
====Paul Manafort and Rick Gates==== In October 2017, Jackson was assigned to preside over the criminal case that Special Counsel Robert Mueller brought against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates as part of his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election cycle. She accepted their "not guilty" pleas, granted bail, confiscated their passports, and ordered them held under house arrest. She also warned defense lawyers not to discuss the case outside of court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/02/561692221/manafort-and-gates-to-remain-restricted-to-their-homes-judge-says|title=Manafort And Gates To Remain Restricted To Their Homes, Judge Says|last=Lucas|first=Ryan|date=November 2, 2017|work=NPR|access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref> On June 15, 2018, after the prosecution accused Manafort of attempted witness tampering, Jackson revoked his bail and sent him to jail until his upcoming federal trials.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=David |last1=Voreacos |first2=Steven T. |last2=Dennis |first3=David |last3=McLaughlin |first4=Andrew M. |last4=Harris |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-15/manafort-sent-to-jail-after-judge-cancels-house-arrest-jig5977k |title=Manafort Heads to Jail After Judge Faults Witness Tampering |date=June 15, 2018 |work=Bloomberg.com |access-date=June 15, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> On February 23, 2018, Gates pleaded guilty to one count of false statements and one count of conspiracy against the United States.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/former-trump-campaign-official-rick-gates-pleads-guilty-on-two-counts.html|title=Former Trump campaign official Rick Gates pleads guilty to lying and conspiracy against the US|last=Breuninger|first=Kevin|date=February 23, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref> The plea bargain to which Gates agreed included his cooperation with the Mueller investigation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/us/politics/rick-gates-russia.html|title=How the Russia Investigation Entangled a Manafort Protégé|last1=Confessore|first1=Nicholas|date=June 16, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 30, 2017|last2=Meier|first2=Barry|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On September 14, 2018, Manafort pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy against the United States and his plea bargain similarly included an agreement to cooperate with Mueller's investigation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/us/politics/manafort-plea-deal.html|title=Paul Manafort Agrees to Cooperate With Special Counsel; Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charges|last1=LaFraniere|first1=Sharon|date=September 14, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 15, 2018|last2=Vogel|first2=Kenneth|language=en-US}}</ref> But on February 13, 2019, Jackson ruled that Manafort had lied to Mueller's office, to the FBI, and to a grand jury after having pleaded guilty regarding his interactions with Konstantin Kilimnik, a man the FBI believed had ties to Russian intelligence agencies. Jackson ruled that the Special Counsel was no longer bound by the original terms of Manafort's plea, which included the prosecution having committed to advocating a sentence reduction for him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/us-judge-finds-paul-manafort-lied-to-mueller-probe-about-contacts-with-russian-aide/2019/02/13/c5209f7a-2f2c-11e9-86ab-5d02109aeb01_story.html |title=Federal judge finds Paul Manafort lied to Mueller probe about contacts with Russian aide |author=Spencer S. Hsu |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> Trump pardoned Manafort on December 23, 2020, the same day he pardoned Roger Stone.<ref name=pardons/>
====Alex van der Zwaan==== On April 3, 2018, Jackson sentenced a former associate of Gates, Dutch attorney Alex van der Zwaan, who practiced in London, to one month in prison and a $20,000 fine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/zoetillman/a-lawyer-who-admitted-lying-to-the-special-counsels-office|title=A Lawyer Who Admitted Lying To The Special Counsel's Office Was Just Sentenced To One Month In Jail|last=Tillman|first=Zoe|date=April 3, 2018|work=Buzzfeed|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> Van der Zwaan had pleaded guilty to a single count of making a false statement to investigators regarding alleged Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Viswanatha|first1=Aruna|last2=Quentin Wilber|first2=Del|title=Associate of Gates Pleads Guilty to Lying to Mueller Team |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsels-office-files-criminal-charges-against-alex-van-der-zwaan-1519137989|access-date= May 8, 2021|work=The Wall Street Journal|date= February 20, 2018}}</ref> Upon release he was deported to Holland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/05/politics/alex-van-der-zwaan-deported/index.html|title=Only person to serve time in Mueller investigation deported|last1=Polantz|first1=Katelyn|last2=Kopan|first2=Tal|date=June 5, 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> In December 2020, Trump pardoned him.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Schmidt |first2=Michael S. |date=2020-12-23 |title=Trump Pardons Two Russia Inquiry Figures and Blackwater Guards |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/trump-pardons.html |access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref>
====Roger Stone==== In January 2019 Jackson was assigned the case of Roger Stone, who had been an informal advisor to 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump, after a grand jury had indicted Stone on seven counts including making false statements, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-25/roger-stone-arrested-in-florida-as-part-of-special-counsel-probe|title=Trump Associate Roger Stone Arrested in Florida as Part of Special Counsel Probe|first1=Andrew M.|last1=Harris|first2=David|last2=Kocieniewski|first3=David|last3=Voreacos|website=Bloomberg|date=January 25, 2019|access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> On February 15, 2019, Jackson imposed a limited gag order on Stone and his attorneys.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/15/politics/roger-stone-gag-order/index.html|title=Judge puts gag order on Roger Stone and attorneys|last=Polantz|first=Katelyn|date=February 15, 2019|work=CNN|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> On February 18, Stone posted an Instagram photo of Jackson.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/roger-stone-judge-instagram_n_5c6b1233e4b0b9cc78ff507e|title=Roger Stone Attacks Judge Presiding Over His Case In Bizarre Instagram Post|last=Campbell|first=Andy|date=February 18, 2019|work=Huffington Post|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> Stone took his post down and apologized, but on February 21, Jackson tightened the terms of his gag order, saying, "From this moment on, the defendant may not speak publicly about this case—period."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/politics/roger-stone-gag-order/index.html|title=Judge calls new hearing on gag order after Roger Stone's inflammatory post|last=Polantz|first=Katelyn|date=February 19, 2019|work=CNN|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/roger-stone-apologizes-to-judge-for-instagram-post-my-wife-is-kicking-me|title=Judge rips into Roger Stone, bars him from speaking publicly on case: 'There will be no third chance'|last=Re|first=Gregg|date=February 21, 2019|work=Fox News|access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> In February 2020, the Department of Justice prosecutors recommended a seven-to-nine-year federal prison sentence for Stone. Trump characterized the recommendation as unfair and "a miscarriage of justice". But the Department of Justice under Attorney General William Barr recommended a shorter sentence, indicating that it should be "far less." Irate, the four lead prosecutors resigned from the case.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Dartunorro |last1=Clark |first2=Michael |last2=Kosnar |first3=Dareh |last3=Gregorian |first4=Tom |last4=Winter |date=February 11, 2020 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/doj-backpedalling-sentencing-recommendation-trump-ally-roger-stone-n1134961|title=All four Roger Stone prosecutors resign from case after DOJ backpedals on sentencing recommendation |website=NBC News }}</ref> Trump criticized Jackson's earlier judicial rulings on Twitter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/12/trump-stone-judge/|title=Trump attacks federal judge, prosecutors in Twitter tirade defending Roger Stone|last=Chiu|first=Allyson|date=February 12, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> On February 20, 2020, Jackson said before Stone's sentencing: "He was not prosecuted, as some have claimed, for standing up for the president. He was prosecuted for covering up for the president." Jackson denied that Stone was being punished for his politics or his allies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/made-of-steel-judge-amy-berman-jackson-set-to-sentence-roger-stone-after-trumps-attacks/2220486/ |title='Made of Steel': Judge Amy Berman Jackson Sentences Roger Stone After Trump's Attacks |work=NBC |first=Noreen |last=O'Donnell |date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=February 22, 2020 }}</ref> She sentenced him to 40 months in federal prison and a $20,000 fine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2020 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/20/roger-stone-sentencing-hearing-underway/4798388002/ |title=Truth still matters': Judge sentences Roger Stone to 40 months in prison for obstructing Congress' Russia investigation|last3=Wu|first1=Kristine |last1=Phillips |first2=Kevin |last2=Johnson |first3=Nicholas |website=USA Today |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-22}}</ref> Stone's lawyers moved to disqualify Jackson; Jackson denied the motion on the basis of lack of "factual or legal support" for it.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Bowden |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/484289-judge-denies-roger-stones-motion-to-disqualify-her |title=Judge denies Roger Stone's motion to disqualify her |work=The Hill |date=February 23, 2020 }}</ref> Jackson criticized Trump's personal attacks on the Stone jury foreperson after the verdict.<ref name=attacks>{{cite news |first=Katelyn |last=Polantz |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/politics/roger-stone-hearing-juror-amy-berman-jackson/index.html |title=Judge Amy Berman Jackson criticizes Trump's attacks on Roger Stone juror |work=CNN |date=February 25, 2020 |access-date=May 9, 2021 }}</ref> Trump tweeted, "There has rarely been a juror so tainted as the forewoman in the Roger Stone case. Look at her background. She never revealed her hatred of 'Trump' and Stone. She was totally biased, as is the judge. Roger wasn't even working on my campaign. Miscarriage of justice. Sad to watch!"<ref name=attacks/>
Trump commuted Stone's sentence in July 2020, shortly before Stone was scheduled to report to federal prison. He pardoned Stone on December 23, 2020, four weeks before Joe Biden was sworn in.<ref name=pardons>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/23/949820820/trump-pardons-roger-stone-paul-manafort-and-charles-kushner |title=Trump Pardons Roger Stone, Paul Manafort And Charles Kushner |work=National Public Radio |first1=Anita |last1=Kelly |first2=Ryan |last2=Lucas |first3=Vanessa |last3=Romo |date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=May 9, 2021 }}</ref>
====Mueller investigation memo==== {{further|Barr letter}} In May 2021, Jackson found that the Justice Department under Barr had inappropriately failed to release a memo by the Special Counsel about alleged obstruction of justice. Her opinion described Barr as having summarized "what he'd hardly had time to skim, much less study closely, [which] prompted an immediate reaction, as politicians and pundits took to their microphones and Twitter feeds to decry what they feared was an attempt to hide the ball."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-orders-justice-dept-to-release-trump-obstruction-memo/2021/05/04/bb13b820-ad18-11eb-82c1-896aca955bb9_story.html |title=Judge orders Justice Dept. to release Trump obstruction memo |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Eric |last=Tucker |agency=Associated Press |date=May 4, 2021 |access-date=May 5, 2021 }}</ref> Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance believed that Berman could refer Barr for investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility or to the Justice department's Inspector General, with possibilities of censure, disbarment or prosecution. Either the IG or the OPR could further refer the case to the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, which could initiate an investigation and/or prosecution.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/judge-amy-berman-jackson-s-barr-rebuke-opens-door-doj-n1266692 |title=Judge Amy Berman Jackson's rebuke opens door to DOJ accountability |work=MSNBC |first=Joyce |last=Vance |date=May 7, 2021 |access-date=May 11, 2021 }}</ref>
==== CFPB ==== On March 28, 2025, Jackson blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and ordered the reinstatement of its employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/judge-blocks-dismantling-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-orders/story?id=120277275|title=Judge blocks dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, orders employees reinstated|website=ABC News|date=2025-03-28|access-date=2025-03-30}}</ref> On August 15, 2025, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned Jackson's ruling, 2-1, allowing the administration to proceed with plans to significantly reduce the CFPB staff. Judge Cornelia Pillard dissented.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/nx-s1-5403868/appeals-court-ruling-cfpb-layoffs|title=CFPB Staff Layoffs Can Proceed, Appels Court Rules|website=National Public Radio|date=2025-08-15}}</ref>
==Affiliations== Jackson served on the board of the Washington D.C. Rape Crisis Center and has also been a member of the Parent Steering Committee of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders.<ref name="ATTORNEYS, Amy Berman Jackson"/>
==Personal life== Jackson was married to Darryl W. Jackson, a lawyer and a senior Republican political appointee.<ref name=Hsu2019>{{cite news |first=Spencer S. |last=Hsu |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/paul-manafort-is-about-to-face-another-sentencing-judge-amy-berman-jackson/2019/03/09/ebdea46a-41cc-11e9-a0d3-1210e58a94cf_story.html |title=Paul Manafort is about to face another sentencing judge: Amy Berman Jackson |newspaper=Washington Post |date=March 11, 2019 }}</ref> He worked in the Office of Export Enforcement as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for George W. Bush in 2005 after leaving the Arnold & Porter firm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darryl Jackson -- Department of Commerce|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/results/leadership/bio_813.html|quote=On October 7, 2005, the United States Senate confirmed President Bush's nomination of Darryl W. Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement}}</ref> They have two sons, one of whom is Matt Jackson, who won 13 consecutive games on ''Jeopardy!'', earning $411,612.<ref>{{cite web|title='Jeopardy!' mastermind Matt Jackson loses in classiest way possible |url=https://mashable.com/2015/10/14/matt-jackson-loses-jeopardy/ |last=Ellis |first=Johnathan |work=Mashable |date=October 14, 2015 |access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Profile">{{Cite news |last=LaFraniere |first=Sharon |date=February 20, 2020 |title=Judge in Roger Stone Trial Confronts a High-Pressure Decision |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/us/politics/amy-berman-jackson-roger-stone.html |access-date=February 20, 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> While appearing on the trivia show, he said, "My mom is white, liberal and Jewish, and my dad is black, Christian and conservative."<ref name="WashingtonPost"/><ref name=Hsu2019/>
In her spare time, Jackson writes music and sings.<ref name="NYT-Profile" />
==See also== * List of Jewish American jurists * Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{FJC Bio|nid=1393656}} * {{Ballotpedia|Amy_B._Jackson|Amy Berman Jackson}}
{{s-start}} {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=Gladys Kessler}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia}}|years=2011–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Loren AliKhan}} {{s-end}}
{{United States DC Circuit senior district judges}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Amy Berman}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Assistant United States attorneys Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Category:Lawyers from Baltimore Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C. Category:United States district court judges appointed by Barack Obama Category:20th-century American Jews Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:20th-century American women lawyers Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century American women judges Category:21st-century American lawyers