Federal judge rules Trump-appointed US prosecutor in Los Angeles isn't legally serving

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A federal judge has ruled that Republican Bill Essayli is not legally serving as the top US prosecutor in Los Angeles.

Essayli was disqualified from overseeing two criminal prosecutions. The order, however, will not immediately go into effect, and the Department of Justice (DoJ) has said it intends to appeal.

The ruling was part of a long-running legal battle challenging the Trump administration’s maneuvers to keep Essayli in office despite not being confirmed by the US Senate.

Essayli, a former Republican state lawmaker and ally of Donald Trump , became an interim US attorney in April 2025, but he was not formally nominated by the president, which allowed him to lead the office without going through the standard confirmation process.

After Essayli’s “interim” appointment ended last July, the Trump administration gave him an “acting” title, then kept him on as a “first…