Judge Declares Trump‑Appointed Acting U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles Unlawful Federal judge ruled that Bill Essayli, acting U.S. Attorney for Central District of California, cannot legally serve beyond the 120‑day limit, a move that challenges the Trump administration's strategy to keep acting attorneys in place without Senate confirmation. A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that Bill Essayli, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, is not legally permitted to serve as the district's top prosecutor. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright on Tuesday, is a continuation of a series of legal challenges that have emerged as the former Trump administration has attempted to keep a number of acting attorneys in place well beyond the 120‑day statutory limit for such appointments. Seabright's order declares that Essayli-who was named acting U.S. Attorney last year by President Trump after being a former state legislator and federal prosecutor-has unlawfully been holding a de facto leadership role that should have been formally confirmed by the U.S. Senate.Essayli Defies Ruling Pending Supreme Court ReviewThe judge's ruling does not take effect immediately; it will only become binding after the court reviews the government's motion to stay the decision pending an appeal. Speaking in a statement, Essayli declined to accept the judgment. He argued that the President and Attorney General retain the right to designate supervisors within the Justice Department, and he stated that the ultimate issue would be resolved by the Supreme Court.In his view, he will continue to serve in his current role until that resolution. The case is part of a broader pattern in which federal courts have found several Trump‑appointed acting attorneys to be exercising authority beyond the limits set by federal law. Prior rulings have disqualified figures such as Alina Habba in New Jersey and John Sarcone in New York.The 9th Circuit's 2023 decision that Sigal Chattah, the Trump administration's original pick for the U.S. Attorney in Nevada, was unlawfully appointed, further influenced Seabright's thinking. He noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi's designations of Essayli as both a special attorney and the First Assistant U.S. Attorney mirrored the prohibited structure used to install Chattah.Blanche Revision Failed To Cure Appointment DefectsEven after Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a revised designation that trimmed some of Essayli's responsibilities, the court found the new order did not materially differ from the one deemed improper by the appeals court. Essayli's tenure has been highly visible. He has overseen major federal investigations in California, from alleged health‑care fraud to claims of widespread noncitizen voting in recent elections.California has resisted federal efforts to block the counting of ballots that the Trump administration believes belong to noncitizens. The judge also highlighted that Essayli's appointment and continued presence effectively eliminated any formal acting U.S. Attorney after the 120‑day period, allowing him to assume the top prosecutor's duties without the oversight required for permanent appointments. The ruling underscores the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration's strategy for staffing U.S. Attorney positions and the statutory limits that govern those appointments.Ruling Signals Escalating Disputes With Justice DepartmentThe decision may have implications for other jurisdictions where similar interim appointments have taken place, and it signals a likely escalation of disputes with the Justice Department. The case remains a central point of contention between the current administration's appointed officials and the federal judiciary's interpretation of appointment law.