Multiple Federal Judges Disqualify Trump-Appointed Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for Unlawful Service
Multiple federal judges have disqualified Trump-appointed acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in Southern California for unlawfully overstaying his temporary position, impacting numerous criminal cases.
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Overview
- Multiple federal judges have disqualified Trump-appointed acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli from overseeing criminal prosecutions in Southern California.
- Essayli was found to be unlawfully serving in his temporary role, having overstayed the legally permitted duration for an acting U.S. attorney.
- U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright specifically ruled Essayli unlawfully served since his resignation on July 29, impacting cases in the Central District of California.
- The disqualifications occurred as judges sided with defense lawyers and defendants who challenged Essayli's authority due to his unlawful tenure.
- This situation underscores the federal rule allowing district court judges to appoint an interim U.S. attorney if a permanent one isn't confirmed within 120 days.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by portraying the judge's ruling as part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration attempting to circumvent established legal processes for federal appointments. They emphasize the administration's "unlawful" "maneuvers" and "efforts to sidestep" Senate confirmation, presenting these actions as a systemic issue facing judicial pushback.
"The decision represents another setback to the Trump administration’s effort to extend handpicked acting U.S. attorneys beyond the 120-day limit set by federal law."
ABC News"The ruling is another setback for the Trump administration as it attempts to bypass the 120-day rule on interim appointments and avoid potentially unsuccessful or embarrassing Senate confirmation hearings and votes."
NBC News"A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Justice Department's top prosecutor in Los Angeles has served unlawfully in his role for months, the latest court to push back on the Trump administration's efforts to name acting prosecutors."
CBS News"The decision represents another setback to the Trump administration’s effort to extend handpicked acting U.S. attorneys beyond the 120-day limit set by federal law."
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FAQ
Bill Essayli was disqualified because he unlawfully served as acting U.S. Attorney beyond the legally permitted duration of 120 days, exceeding the allowed temporary appointment period.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright in Southern California ruled that Bill Essayli unlawfully served since July 29 and disqualified him from supervising criminal prosecutions in multiple cases, affecting cases in the Central District of California.
Yes, Judge Seabright allowed Bill Essayli to continue serving as the First Assistant United States Attorney, which effectively keeps him as the office's top prosecutor despite the disqualification from acting U.S. Attorney cases.
Federal law permits acting U.S. Attorneys to serve temporarily but limits their tenure to 120 days. If a permanent U.S. Attorney is not confirmed within that time, a district court judge can appoint an interim U.S. Attorney.
Yes, other Trump-appointed acting U.S. Attorneys such as Sigal Chattah in Nevada and Alina Habba in New Jersey were also ruled to be serving illegally or were disqualified due to exceeding their temporary appointment limits.
History
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