Judge reinstates Seattle U.S. attorney, ruling president cannot fire court-appointed prosecutors

Key points

• Judge Stanley Bastian ruled that President Trump cannot fire U.S. attorneys appointed by district courts, restoring Roger Rogoff to his position in Seattle.
• The ruling invalidates the administration's attempt to install Charles Neil Floyd as the acting U.S. attorney, deeming his authority 'improperly granted.'
• Bastian ordered that the administration cannot obstruct Rogoff's duties or deny him access to resources until a Senate-confirmed replacement is appointed.
• The Justice Department intends to appeal the decision and seek an immediate stay to halt the reinstatement.
• This is the first time a court has directly addressed the legality of firing a prosecutor appointed under the federal vacancies law, rather than just an interim appointment.

Background

This decision follows a series of legal battles in 2026 where federal courts blocked the Trump administration from installing preferred candidates as U.S. attorneys in Nevada, New York, and other districts without Senate confirmation. The Seattle case is distinct because it involves a prosecutor appointed by the district court itself after an interim term expired, rather than a direct presidential appointment.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and The Washington Post emphasized the constitutional implications, noting that the ruling upholds the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. Politico highlighted the ruling as a major setback for the administration's broader strategy of installing loyalists in key prosecutorial roles. All sources agreed that the Justice Department plans to appeal, but differed on the immediate impact: CBS focused on the procedural protections for Rogoff, while The Post framed it as part of a pattern of judicial resistance to executive overreach.

Why it matters

The ruling establishes a precedent that the president cannot bypass the Senate confirmation process by firing court-appointed U.S. attorneys, potentially limiting the administration's ability to control federal prosecutions in districts where the Senate has not confirmed a nominee.

What to watch

The Justice Department is expected to file an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to halt the reinstatement of Roger Rogoff. The administration may also attempt to find other legal avenues to challenge the ruling or install a different interim leader, though the judge's order explicitly bars such actions until a Senate-confirmed candidate is appointed.