President Trump has nominated a conservative Florida judge to serve as a federal prosecutor in the state - as the president pursues a sweeping overhaul of the "weaponized" Justice Department.
The president picked Florida state judge Jason Reding Quiñones to oversee the Southern District of Florida, which covers Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
It's routine for new presidents to replace U.S. attorneys appointed by their predecessors. Trump said Quiñones would help the president's mission to "make America safe again" as Trump pushes the DOJ to take a tough stance on crime and illegal immigration.
Currently, Quinones is a state court trial judge overseeing domestic violence cases. He also has experience working in the Southern District as an assistant U.S. attorney, as well as experience in the National Security Division at the Justice Department as a military and federal prosecutor, according to the Federalist Society.
The former Air Force Judge Advocate (JAG) continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In a post on X, Trump highlighted Quiñones' experience as a judge and prosecutor.
"It is my honor to nominate Judge Jason Reding Quiñones as the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. A former Federal prosecutor and Justice Department National Security Official, Judge Reding Quiñones currently serves as a highly respected State Trial Judge in Miami, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve," Trump wrote.
"As the next U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Judge Reding Quiñones will restore Law and Order, prosecute violent crimes and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. Congratulations Jason!"
Trump's pick was lauded by prominent conservative lawyer Mike Davis, founder of the Article III project.
Davis said Quiñones would "end the weaponization of law enforcement" and refocus the Southern District on stopping "real crimes that affect real Americans--like violent crimes and migrant crimes."
Judge Jason Reding Quiñones, my good friend, is the perfect pick by President Trump to serve as his United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Jason will end the weaponization of law enforcement, hold accountable those who violated the constitutional rights of… pic.twitter.com/omSkMHQPpx
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) February 16, 2025
Quiñones moderated a Federalist Society panel discussion on "lawfare" earlier this month.
Under Biden, the DOJ led a pair of unprecedented prosecutions into Trump, Biden's chief political rival. One of the since-dropped cases, which involved classified documents, was brought against Trump in Florida's Southern District by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Hayden O’Byrne, Trump's interim U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida since January, moved to drop the criminal charges against Trump's co-defendants after Smith resigned and transferred the case to the U.S. Attorney's office. A federal court last week granted O'Byrne's request to dismiss the charges against Trump aide Walt Nauta and former Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos de Oliveira.
Meanwhile, the DOJ has fired career prosecutors based in Miami who assisted on Smith's documents case - part of a wider purge of DOJ officials who targeted Trump and his supporters.
“You played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump,” acting attorney general letter James McHenry wrote in a letter. “The proper functioning of government critically depends on the trust superior officials place in their subordinates. Given your significant role in prosecuting the president, I do not believe that the leadership of the department can trust you to assist in implementing the president’s agenda faithfully.”
