Nicholas Ganjei

Nicholas Jon Ganjei (born 1979) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He previously served as United States attorney for the Southern District of Texas from January 2025 to March 2026.

Early life and education

Ganjei was born in 1979, in Santa Clara, California. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in 1997. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000, cum laude from American University with a dual major in history and political science. He received a Juris Doctor in 2005 from UC Berkeley School of Law. Since 2023, he is studying at the Van Andel School of Government at Hillsdale College working on a Master in Government degree. In May 2025, Ganjei received the unanimous vote of the judges of the Southern District of Texas, re-appointing him as U.S. attorney for the Southern District. Ganjei served as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas from January 2025 until his appointment to the federal bench in March 2026. The nomination was formally transmitted to the United States Senate on November 18, 2025. On November 19, 2025, a hearing on his nomination was held by the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. On December 11, 2025, the committee voted to report his nomination to the Senate by a 12–10 party-line vote. On February 3, 2026, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 49–44 vote. Later that day, his nomination was confirmed by a 51–45 vote. He received his judicial commission on March 10, 2026.

Personal

Ganjei is the first Persian-American to serve as a United States Attorney or as a federal Article III judge. He resides in Houston, Texas.