Lydia Kay Griggsby

Lydia Kay Griggsby (born January 16, 1968) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. She is a former judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims and chief counsel for privacy and information policy for the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is the first woman of color to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Early life and education

Griggsby was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended the Park School of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were both educators who graduated from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. on the same committee until 2014.

Assistant U.S. Attorney service Griggsby served as a trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice from 1995 to 1998.

After her service as a federal prosecutor, Griggsby worked as Counsel for the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics from 2004 to 2005. A hearing on her nomination before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee was held on June 4, 2014. On June 12, 2014, her nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote. On December 3, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on her nomination.

On December 4, 2014, the Senate invoked cloture on Griggsby's nomination by a 53–36 vote. Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a voice vote. She received her commission on December 5, 2014. She took the oath of office on December 15, 2014. Her service on the claims court terminated on July 23, 2021, when she was sworn in as an Article III district court judge. On April 19, 2021, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Griggsby to the seat vacated by Judge Catherine C. Blake, who assumed senior status on April 2, 2021. On May 12, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On June 10, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 16–6 vote. On June 16, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 57–41 vote. Her nomination was confirmed later that day by a 59–39 vote. She received her judicial commission on July 20, 2021.

Notable cases Griggsby has presided over several notable cases. In 2022, Judge Griggsby intervened in NAACP v. Baltimore County when she granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Baltimore County Council's redistricting plan, finding it likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voters' electoral power. She ordered the county to submit a remedial map, and later accepted a revised plan that included one majority-Black district.

In 2023, she oversaw the criminal trial of former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby (Maryland v. Mosby), who was charged with perjury and making false statements on mortgage applications. A jury found Mosby guilty on both counts of perjury related to withdrawals from her city retirement account, and later on two counts of making false mortgage applications in connection with vacation homes in Florida. Griggsby sentenced Mosby to twelve months of home confinement followed by supervised release. a lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal on behalf of LGBTQ+ health researchers and advocacy groups after the Department of Health and Human Services revoked existing National Institutes of Health grants and blocked new applications for review. The plaintiffs alleged that the policy unlawfully targeted LGBTQ+-related programs.

Abusive workplace On February 10, 2026, NPR published an article about a December 17, 2025, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit order where Griggsby acknowledged her chambers had "resulted in an abusive workplace" following a complaint by a former law clerk who alleged bullying, harsh verbal criticism, inadequate guidance, and intimidating behavior during the clerkship resulting in their resignation and transfer along with their co-clerk. The order, signed by Chief Judge Albert Diaz, concluded that after an investigation—which involved meeting with former clerks—clerk's feared asking questions, were subjected to intense questioning about large caseloads, and experienced stress-related health effects. Griggsby disputed some specific allegations while acknowledging that aspects of her management style had created an abusive environment and expressing regret for the impact on staff.

Personal life Griggsby is a member of the National Presbyterian Church and serves as a Deacon.