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Aileen M. Cannon

Aileen M. Cannon

Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Appears in 2 stories

Born: 1981 (age 45 years), Cali, Colombia
Education: Duke University (2003), University of Michigan, and Ransom Everglades High School
Office: Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Party: Republican Party
Nationality: American

Notable Quotes

Cannon’s dismissal opinion argued that Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause and that DOJ could not fund his office without specific congressional authorization.([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/judge-tosses-trump-documents-case-ruling-prosecutor-unlawfully-appointed-2024-07-15/?utm_source=openai))

Stories

Former federal prosecutor charged over alleged theft of sealed Jack Smith report

Force in Play

Presides over related sealing orders

A federal court sealed Volume II of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on Donald Trump's handling of classified documents in January 2025. Sixteen months later, the Department of Justice charged a supervisor from the same U.S. Attorney's Office (which once held the case file) with emailing the sealed volume to her personal Gmail as 'Bundt_Cake_Recipe.pdf.'

Updated May 21

From special counsel to subpoena: the Jack Smith–Trump showdown moves to Congress

Rule Changes

Federal judge controlling key rulings in the classified‑documents case and Smith’s final report

In November 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed veteran prosecutor Jack Smith as special counsel to oversee two high‑risk investigations into Donald Trump: his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents at Mar‑a‑Lago. Both probes produced federal indictments in 2023, placing a former president on track to face criminal trials over alleged election subversion and mishandling of national‑security secrets.

Updated May 10