Jeffrey Kuntz, a judge recently nominated by US President Donald Trump to serve in Florida's federal court, has taken over the President's $10bn defamation case against the BBC. Mr Kuntz was nominated by Mr Trump in April and confirmed by the Republican-led Senate last month with a 51-46 majority.
Mr Kuntz replaces Judge Roy Altman, who was also nominated by Mr Trump in 2019. The case involves Mr Trump suing the BBC over how its Panorama programme edited a speech he gave outside the Capitol in Washington DC on 6 January 2021.
This is one of 17 cases transferred to Mr Kuntz following his appointment to the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida in July. The trial for Mr Trump's case against the BBC is currently scheduled for February 2027, and the President has requested a jury trial.
The BBC has previously apologised for editing two different sections of the speech. However, the broadcaster has requested the case be dismissed, arguing the programme did not meet defamation criteria and that the Florida court lacks jurisdiction as the programme was not available there.
As a Florida appeals judge, Mr Kuntz was involved in another defamation case brought by Mr Trump. In February 2025, he was among three judges who ruled in Mr Trump's favour, allowing him to continue a lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize board.