Follow-Up: Federal Judge Rules Los Angeles Top Federal Prosecutor Bill Essayli Is Serving Unlawfully, Bars Him From Two Cases Pending Appeal
A U.S. federal judge ruled on Tuesday, October 27, that Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor for the Central District of California, is unlawfully serving as a de facto United States Attorney in violation of federal vacancy laws, barring him from two criminal cases while staying the order pending appeal, Reuters reported.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright, sitting in Honolulu, wrote: "In sum, Essayli is unlawfully serving as a 'de facto' United States Attorney." The order bars Essayli from participating in or supervising the prosecutions of Jaime Hector Ramirez, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and Tu Anh Tran, charged with possessing property stolen from interstate or foreign shipment. Seabright declined to dismiss the indictments in either case, finding the defendants had not shown the substantial prejudice required for that relief.
Essayli became interim U.S. attorney in April 2025 for the Central District, which covers Los Angeles and six other counties and about 20 million people. U.S. attorneys are normally nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and interim service is limited to 120 days. As that limit ran out, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi named Essayli a special attorney and designated him first assistant U.S. attorney, leaving him in charge of the office; he was never formally nominated or confirmed.
Seabright had ruled in October 2025 that Essayli was not lawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney but allowed him to supervise cases under his other titles. He said an August ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the Nevada case of Sigal Chattah, which rejected a similar arrangement, changed the legal landscape. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a revised designation on September 23 narrowing Essayli's authority, but Seabright concluded the revised arrangement still gave him authority broad enough to effectively occupy the vacant U.S. attorney post.
Essayli said in a statement: "We respectfully disagree with the court's order. The President and the Attorney General have every right to select supervisors within the Justice Department. Importantly, today's order is automatically stayed so the government can seek a full stay and maintain the status quo pending our appeal." He said the question will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court and that he looks forward to serving in his current role until then. Defense attorney H. Dean Steward, who challenged Essayli's authority, called the ruling a victory for the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.
The administration has faced a series of legal battles over U.S. attorneys installed without Senate confirmation. The 2nd Circuit in August found a prosecutor in upstate New York was unlawfully serving, and the administration has asked the Supreme Court to overturn the 9th Circuit's Nevada ruling and the 2nd Circuit's order.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加州中区首席联邦检察官 Bill Essayli 官方肖像（2024年，加州州议会官方照片，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons），人像完整、彩色。 / Photo: Official portrait of Bill Essayli, 2024, California State Assembly, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
