Judge Rules Essayli Unlawfully Serving as LA Federal Prosecutor
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Bill Essayli is unlawfully serving as Los Angeles' top federal prosecutor. The judge disqualified him from two criminal cases and delayed that order.
- 120-day interim term ended; Essayli was then named first assistant.
- Seabright found Essayli was acting as a de facto U.S. attorney.
- Seabright declined to dismiss indictments against the two defendants.
- Trump has nominated no one for the Central District post.
Why it matters: The ruling targets how the Justice Department kept Essayli in charge without Senate confirmation. Seabright said a revised delegation removing three powers changed nothing.
- It follows a 9th Circuit ruling against a similar setup in Nevada.
- Courts also found appointments unlawful in New Jersey and Virginia.
How 9 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides over whether Essayli is an aggressive prosecutor carrying out lawful policy or an unlawfully installed official overreaching in politically charged cases.
Left coverage, 5 sources: The left sees an unconfirmed prosecutor kept in power through an unlawful workaround, while pursuing politically charged cases against California.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right sees an effective Trump prosecutor sidelined by judges, with Senate confirmation blocked by the blue-slip custom.
What’s next: Prosecutors have five business days to request a stay pending appeal. If Seabright denies it, the disqualifications take effect one week later.
- The administration has asked the Supreme Court to review the Nevada case.
- Essayli said he expects to keep serving until the Supreme Court rules.
- Will the Supreme Court take up the Nevada case that bears on Essayli's role?
- How would the ruling affect other cases his office supervises, including the voter-roll suit against California?
