A federal judge has determined that Bill Essayli, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, is not legally serving as the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles. The ruling, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright, marks the latest setback for the Trump administration's efforts to install U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation.
Judge Seabright, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that Essayli is "unlawfully serving as a 'de facto' United States Attorney" and is "disqualified from participating in or supervising" cases. The judge also found that the Department of Justice (DOJ) unlawfully delegated powers to keep Essayli in the role beyond the 120-day statutory limit for acting U.S. attorneys. The order is stayed pending the government's expected appeal, meaning Essayli remains in his position for now.
Essayli, a former California State Assembly member, learned of the ruling through the Los Angeles Times and responded on social media platform X, asserting that the order has no immediate effect. "I remain First Assistant U.S. Attorney and continue running the office. The Supreme Court will ultimately decide this matter," he wrote.
The Trump administration appointed Essayli last year in an acting capacity. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi designated him as first assistant U.S. attorney before the 120-day limit expired. Judge Seabright's ruling draws a direct parallel to the case of Sigal Chattah, the administration's pick for U.S. attorney in Nevada, whom the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found to be unlawfully appointed. The judge noted that Essayli's appointment was "identical" to Chattah's.
The legal challenge to Essayli's authority was brought by defense attorney H. Dean Steward in August. Steward hailed the ruling as "a victory for the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution." He accused the Trump administration of ignoring federal appointment laws, saying, "Trump and his Department of Justice violated the law again and again in an effort to install minions as chief federal prosecutors."
Essayli has been a key figure in the DOJ's confrontation with California over alleged noncitizen voter registrations. He has overseen the department's request to counties to identify potential noncitizens on voter rolls, describing the request as "simple" and warning that noncompliant election officials will be held accountable. This aggressive stance has drawn sharp criticism from state officials and voting rights advocates.
The ruling adds to a growing list of legal defeats for the administration's unconventional prosecutor appointments. In December, an appeals court ruled that Alina Habba, the administration's choice for New Jersey's top prosecutor, was unlawfully appointed. Similarly, a federal judge in January found that Lindsey Halligan "may not serve" as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia due to an unlawful appointment. These decisions underscore the judiciary's scrutiny of the administration's bypassing of the Senate confirmation process.
While the immediate impact of Tuesday's ruling is stayed, the decision could have far-reaching implications for ongoing federal cases in Los Angeles and beyond. If upheld on appeal, it would invalidate Essayli's authority retroactively, potentially affecting prosecutions he supervised. The case is likely to reach the Supreme Court, as Essayli himself predicted, given the administration's pattern of pushing legal boundaries.
For now, the DOJ is expected to seek a stay pending appeal, and Essayli continues to run the office. But the ruling is a clear signal that courts are unwilling to accept the administration's expansive interpretation of appointment powers. As similar challenges mount, the administration's strategy of installing loyalists as acting U.S. attorneys faces an uncertain future.
