Richard Stearns

Richard Stearns is a US federal judge presiding over cases in Boston. He has recently been newsworthy for rulings against the administration of President Donald Trump. Specifically, Judge Stearns ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a Babson College student who was deported to Honduras while traveling home for Thanksgiving. He gave the administration three weeks to rectify the deportation and recommended issuing her a student visa. In another case, Judge Stearns ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully ended a FEMA disaster prevention program, challenged by twenty states. These rulings highlight Judge Stearns' role in checking the power of the executive branch and ensuring adherence to legal procedures and established programs.