D.D.C.Litigation
Justice Department moves to disqualify Judge Ana Reyes from East Potomac golf course case
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. on October 16, 2026, asked U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes to recuse herself from the D.C. Preservation League's challenge to the administration's East Potomac golf course work, alleging hostility toward the government. The motion came days after Reyes issued a restraining order halting tree removal and sharply criticized government lawyers for failing to give promised notice.
Filing (The Washington Post) → · Bloomberg Law, The Washington Sun
Key points
- The motion accuses Reyes of "deep-seated and unequivocal antipathy" toward the administration and says it is entitled to a neutral forum.Bloomberg LawThe Washington Sun
- Reyes issued a restraining order after the government removed roughly 430 trees following notice filed at 4:55 p.m. on October 9.The Washington PostThe Washington Sun
- Reyes had told government lawyers they had lost credibility and sought sworn testimony from an Interior Department official.The Washington PostThe Washington Sun
- The plaintiffs opposed recusal the same day and said they did not object to releasing the hearing audio.The Washington Sun
- The motion cites the federal standard requiring disqualification where a judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned; a hearing is set for October 19.The Washington Sun