Table of Contents
- Federal Judge Rules Essayli Unlawfully Appointed
- Trump-Era Appointment Strategy Under Fire
- What This Means for LA Federal Prosecutions
- A Growing Pattern of Judicial Pushback
- Sources
Federal Judge Rules Essayli Unlawfully Appointed
In a surprising twist that’s rattling the legal and political spheres, a federal judge has ruled that Bill Essayli—the Trump-backed U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California—was unlawfully serving in his role. The decision, handed down Tuesday by Judge J. Michael Seabright of the U.S. District Court in Hawaii, declared that Essayli “is not lawfully serving as acting United States Attorney” and “cannot continue to perform any role” tied to that position.
Yet, in what critics call a legal loophole, the judge simultaneously allowed Essayli to remain as the office’s first assistant U.S. attorney—effectively the second-in-command. This means he can still supervise major federal prosecutions in Los Angeles, despite being stripped of his top title.
Trump-Era Appointment Strategy Under Fire
Essayli’s appointment is part of a broader Trump administration tactic to install loyalists in key Justice Department roles without Senate confirmation. Under federal law, acting U.S. attorneys can serve for 120 days without confirmation. After that, they must either be confirmed or replaced.
But the Department of Justice has repeatedly sidestepped this requirement by reassigning appointees like Essayli to deputy roles, then having them continue to lead offices in practice. Judge Seabright, a George W. Bush appointee, acknowledged this end-run around the law, stating he shared concerns that the workaround offered “little remedy at all.” Still, he said he was bound to “apply the statutes as written.”
What This Means for LA Federal Prosecutions
The Central District of California—the nation’s largest federal judicial district, covering seven counties including Los Angeles—is now in a state of legal limbo. Three ongoing criminal cases had challenged Essayli’s authority to prosecute, arguing his appointment was invalid.
While Judge Seabright refused to dismiss those cases, he did clarify that Essayli can no longer act as the official U.S. Attorney. However, because he remains first assistant, he retains supervisory authority over those very cases. Legal experts say this creates a paradox: the man deemed unlawful as top prosecutor can still run the office from the second chair.
A Growing Pattern of Judicial Pushback
This isn’t an isolated incident. Essayli’s disqualification marks the third time federal judges have rejected Trump-era attempts to keep prosecutors in power past their 120-day window without confirmation. A fourth challenge is already underway—led by none other than former FBI Director James Comey—who argues that Lindsey Halligan, a Trump-appointed prosecutor in Virginia, also lacks legal standing.
Critics warn this strategy undermines the checks and balances designed to ensure impartial federal law enforcement. “When political loyalty trumps legal process, public trust erodes,” said one legal ethics professor who asked not to be named.
As of Wednesday, Essayli’s office had not issued a public statement. A spokesperson was unreachable for comment.
Sources
The New York Times: Federal Judge Disqualifies Trump-Backed Prosecutor in Los Angeles
