In a decision that probably surprised a few folks in Washington—but not those of us who still believe in basic fairness—U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has officially ordered full refunds for two Jan. 6 defendants pardoned by President Donald Trump. Yes, the same Judge Boasberg who just a few months ago said “no” to the exact same request has now reversed himself. Better late than never.

Cynthia Ballenger and Christopher Price, a married couple convicted on misdemeanor charges tied to the events of Jan. 6, had previously been ordered to pay hundreds in fees and restitution. They already paid $570 each before appealing their cases. And here’s where things get interesting: while their appeals were pending before the D.C. Circuit, President Trump—during his second term—issued a sweeping pardon covering roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants. Naturally, this mooted the appeals.

Boasberg, in a new memo order, explained that the timing of the pardon and the resulting actions of the appeals court changed everything. The D.C. Circuit vacated their convictions entirely. That “wipes the slate clean,” as the judge himself put it—something the American people understand pretty well, though Washington tends to struggle with basic common sense.

The judge acknowledged that a pardon alone doesn’t automatically entitle anyone to a refund. But a vacated conviction? That’s a whole different story.
“So even if defendants’ pardon does not entitle them to refunds, the resulting vacatur of their convictions might,” Boasberg wrote. And indeed, that’s exactly what happened.

He went further, addressing questions about sovereign immunity—the government’s favorite shield whenever it's time to avoid responsibility. But Boasberg said the court has full authority to reverse payments it once imposed. “Two sides of the same action,” he explained. Hard to argue with that logic… though some in D.C. still try.

This is likely to be seen as a win by Trump allies—and for obvious reasons. When even a judge who previously ruled the opposite now says the government must return the money, it shows what many have been saying for years: fairness isn’t partisan, and justice doesn’t crumble just because some folks in Washington want it to.

In the end, Boasberg said it plainly:
“When a conviction is vacated, the government must return any payments exacted because of it.”

A simple, lawful conclusion—finally. And a reminder that with persistence, the truth has a way of breaking through. A good day for fairness, and an even better day for Americans who still believe in due process.