March 17, 2023: Boasberg Took the Chief-Judge Chair. The Notes Had Already Booked Him.

The District of Columbia court biography of Beryl A. Howell states she served as Chief Judge “from March 2016 until March 17, 2023.” The official biography of James E. Boasberg states he has been Chief Judge as of March 17, 2023. The Federal Judicial Center records the same chief-judge window for Howell (2016–2023) and Boasberg’s later service.

The Grassley-released January 13, 2023, briefing notes, written while she still held the chair, include the line “Judge Boasberg = March 18.” March 18, 2023, was the day after the succession. That is the documented overlap. It is not a finding that the two judges jointly planned Smith’s case.

This post is the succession card and the pairing hook for jamesboasberg.com/posts/chief-judge.html and smith-notes.html on that file. She remained a district judge and later took senior status. She did not leave the building.