Judge blocks Trump from firing court-appointed U.S. attorneys

Key points

• Judge Stanley Bastian ruled that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally fire U.S. attorneys appointed by district courts, stating such action would disrupt the constitutional balance between presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.
• The ruling restored Roger Rogoff to his position as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, which he had sworn into on July 15, 2026, after being appointed by local judges.
• Judge Bastian stripped authority from Charles Neil Floyd, whom the administration had temporarily installed in Rogoff’s place, declaring the move an improper grant of power.
• The court barred the White House, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the Justice Department from interfering with Rogoff’s service or treating anyone else as the U.S. attorney.
• The Justice Department announced it will seek a temporary stay from an appeals court while it appeals the decision.

Background

This ruling follows a pattern where the Trump administration has attempted to bypass Senate confirmation to place loyalists in key roles, including firing court-appointed prosecutors. It occurs amid broader tensions between the executive and judicial branches, including recent disputes over birthright citizenship and election rules, where courts have frequently blocked executive actions.

Why it matters

The decision limits the executive branch’s ability to control federal prosecutors in districts where the Senate confirmation process has stalled or been bypassed, reinforcing the independence of court-appointed officials and setting a precedent for future disputes over prosecutorial authority.

What to watch

The Justice Department is expected to appeal the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking a temporary stay to block the decision while the appeal is pending.