Judge Julia Kobick Who Blocked Trump’s Latest Move Against Gender Ideology Has Deep Connections To Democrats

A Massachusetts federal judge that blocked the State Department from enforcing Trump’s executive order requiring birth-assigned gender on passports has deep connections with Democrats.

U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick in a preliminary injunction Tuesday blocked President Donald Trump’s order, which would have required individuals renewing passports within one year of expiration — or changing their name or gender designation — to list their biological sex.

The ruling allows passport applicants to continue selecting “X” on their application forms. (RELATED: ‘Irreparable Harm’: Biden-Appointed Judge Blocks Trump’s Bid To Shut Off Lights At Ed Dep’t)

Kobick, a nominee of former President Joe Biden, has long-standing ties to the Democratic Party.

CONFIRMED: Julia Kobick to the District of Massachusetts

Her credentials and breadth of experience make her well-suited to serve on this court.

She’s the 150th lifetime judge confirmed under President Biden – and the 100th woman confirmed. pic.twitter.com/IWVc82lMsm

— Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryDems) November 8, 2023

She previously clerked for former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and served under former-Massachusetts Attorney General and now Governor Maura Healey as her assistant attorney general.

“I cultivate relationships with the fellows and interns, and I served for a year on the Government Bureau’s Racial Equity Working Group,” she wrote in her United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees.

Prior to her nomination, Kobick disclosed that she had volunteered for several Democratic political campaigns, including knocking on doors and holding signs for John Kerry’s 2004 presidential run and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential bid.

She also supported Democrats in local races, including Eric Lesser’s 2014 state senate campaign and Chris Pappas’s 2018 congressional run.

In addition to her volunteer work, Kobick has donated approximately $1,202.92 to Democratic campaigns, including contributions to Warren, Hillary Clinton, and ActBlue.

She also was an intern for former Massachusetts Democratic Governor Deval Patrick’s Office of Legal Counsel in 2008.

Kobick detailed the “two substantive changes to [the State Department’s] prior passport policy” that the department implemented in late January 2025. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: MA School District Rolls Out New DEI Positions Despite Trump’s Orders)

First, the State Department removed the option for individuals to choose whether their passport reflected their gender identity or their biological sex, and also barred applicants from changing their name or gender marker to align with their identified gender.

Second, it eliminated the “X” gender marker option previously available to intersex, non-binary, and gender non-conforming applicants. These revisions are collectively referred to in the Kobick’s order as the “Passport Policy.”

US District Judge Julia Kobick has just extended the scope of an April injunction that initially affected six individuals to a nationwide order blocking the Trump administration from refusing passports that reflect transgender and nonbinary gender identities.

Background: pic.twitter.com/ueuN0EgMFl

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 17, 2025

The State Department’s website explains the changes made to its passport policy from the executive order Trump signed on his first day in office.

“Under the executive order, we will no longer issue U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) with an X marker. We will only issue passports with an M or F sex marker that match the customer’s biological sex at birth.”

🚨BREAKING: A Biden-appointed federal judge blocked the Trump administration from refusing to issue passports to Americans which conflict with their biological sex. pic.twitter.com/9UJVncajeX

— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) June 17, 2025

“If you submit a passport application requesting an X marker or requesting a sex marker that differs from the sex marker at your birth, you may experience delays getting your passport. You may receive a letter or email requesting more information. We will issue you a new passport that matches your biological sex at birth, based on your supporting documents and our records about your previous passports,” the website adds. (RELATED: Federal Judge Takes One Look At Harvard Lawsuit, Blocks Trump Order Almost Instantly)

Trump’s order reversed a Biden-era policy that allowed Americans to self-identify their gender on passport applications, including the option to select “X” for those who do not identify as male or female.

Kobick’s ruling expanded an earlier decision in April that only applied to six of the original plaintiffs.