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 "excerpt": "Deborah L. Boardman, born Deborah Lynn Boardman in 1974, is an American jurist serving as a US district judge for the District of Maryland since 2021.",
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 "markdown": "# Deborah L. Boardman\n\nDeborah Lynn Boardman (born 1974) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland since 2021.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> She was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> Before her district court appointment, she served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Joseph R. Biden<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | June 23, 2021 (Senate voted 52 to 48)<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170248)</sup> |\n| Born | 1974 in Silver Spring, Maryland<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Villanova University, 1996; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2000<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBoardman was born in 1974 in [Silver Spring, Maryland](https://www.edgepedia.org/silver-spring-maryland).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> She was born and raised in Maryland and attended Frederick County public schools.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup> She received her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from [Villanova University](https://www.edgepedia.org/villanova-university) in 1996.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup> After college, she was a Fulbright Scholar in Amman, Jordan.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup> She received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2000, where she was a member of The Virginia Law Review.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nUpon graduation from law school, Boardman served as a law clerk to Judge James C. Cacheris of the [United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-virginia) from 2000 to 2001.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup> She then spent seven years in private practice in Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2008, working as an associate at Hogan & Hartson LLP (now [Hogan Lovells](https://www.edgepedia.org/hogan-lovells)), where she practiced complex commercial litigation, maintained an active pro bono practice, and served as the senior associate in the firm's pro bono department.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup>\n\nIn 2008, Boardman joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland, where she represented individuals charged with federal crimes in the Greenbelt and Baltimore courthouses.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup> She served as an assistant public defender from 2008 to 2019, and in 2015 was named first assistant federal public defender, a position she held until 2019.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup>\n\nIn 2019, Boardman was appointed a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland, and she continued in that position until 2021.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden nominated Boardman to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on April 19, 2021.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on June 23, 2021, by a vote of 52 to 48.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170248)</sup> She received her commission on June 25, 2021.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)</sup> She was sworn in during a private ceremony on July 1, 2021, and currently has chambers at 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 445, Greenbelt, MD 20770 (Southern Division).<sup>[4](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/news/swearing-deborah-l-boardman-united-states-district-judge-2021-07-01t000000)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Deborah Lynn Boardman](https://www.fjc.gov/node/10300021)\n2. [Deborah L. Boardman, District Judge | District of Maryland](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/deborah-l-boardman-district-judge)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, June 23, 2021](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170248)\n4. [Swearing-In of Deborah L. Boardman as United States District Judge](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/news/swearing-deborah-l-boardman-united-states-district-judge-2021-07-01t000000)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Bl to By*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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