Court Disqualifies Bill Essayli as Acting U.S. Attorney

UPDATE: A federal judge has just ruled that Bill Essayli has been unlawfully serving as the acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California since late July. The ruling was issued by Judge J. Michael Seabright of the Federal District Court in Hawaii, declaring that Essayli “is not lawfully serving as Acting United States Attorney.”

This urgent decision comes as a significant blow to the Trump administration’s attempts to fill high-ranking positions without proper congressional approval. The ruling raises immediate questions about the legal status of ongoing prosecutions in California.

According to the court, Essayli’s role violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which limits the duration for which interim federal officials can serve without Senate confirmation. The judge stated, “Simply stated: Essayli unlawfully assumed the role of Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California since his resignation from the interim role on July 29, 2025.”

Despite the ruling, the impact appears limited for Essayli. He can continue performing his duties as the first assistant U.S. attorney. In a statement, Essayli downplayed the ruling, saying, “For those who didn’t read the entire order, nothing is changing. I continue serving as the top federal prosecutor in the Central District of California.”

The court’s decision stemmed from motions filed by three defendants seeking to dismiss their indictments and disqualify Essayli from his position. However, Judge Seabright denied their request to dismiss the indictments, asserting that “the prosecutions remain valid.”

This ruling follows a series of legal challenges against former Trump appointees. In August, a federal judge ruled that Alina Habba, a former personal lawyer to Trump, was illegally serving as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after her 12-day term expired. Similarly, last month, a judge ruled that Sigal Chattah had unlawfully held the position of Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada. Those decisions are currently under appeal.

As this situation unfolds, it highlights ongoing concerns over the administration’s approach to filling key legal positions without Senate approval, raising significant implications for ongoing legal proceedings across the country.

What to watch for next: Legal experts will be closely monitoring the implications of this ruling on current and future prosecutions in California, as well as any potential appeals from the Trump administration.