US Attorney Who Trump Fired Minutes After Appointment Sues to Restore Position Legal Battle Over Federal Prosecutor Appointment Qwenews.com – A former

US Attorney Who Trump Fired Minutes After Appointment Sues to Restore Position

Legal Battle Over Federal Prosecutor Appointment

Qwenews.com – A former US attorney in Washington state has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to reclaim his position after being dismissed less than one hour following a unanimous federal judges’ vote to appoint him. This legal challenge represents the first of its kind as the administration continues its ongoing effort to nominate and confirm President Donald Trump’s selections for lead prosecutors nationwide, while simultaneously tightening control over the federal justice system. Roger Rogoff, a distinguished former judge and veteran prosecutor, was chosen by federal judges last week as the Western District’s top prosecutor, only to be removed from the role shortly thereafter.

According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, existing law explicitly permits federal judges to select US attorneys until a Senate-confirmed nominee assumes the position. “But no person has yet been nominated, let alone confirmed, to fill the vacancy,” the legal document states. The lawsuit contends that Rogoff’s dismissal violates constitutional principles and grants Trump unprecedented authority to alter established legal procedures.

“The President cannot grant himself the authority to make those interim appointments instead, nor can he rewrite (the law) to require presidential approval of the district court’s choice,” the lawsuit argues.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the situation in a social media post published the day Rogoff was terminated, noting that “District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them.” However, the legal challenge suggests this interpretation overlooks the proper balance of power between judicial and executive branches.

Broader Implications for Federal Prosecutorial Appointments

Rogoff joins a growing list of lead prosecutors appointed by district court judges who have been quickly dismissed by the Trump administration. While other appointees have chosen to remain in their positions and allow the Justice Department to exercise its preferred leadership structure, Rogoff is taking a more assertive legal approach. Similar conflicts have emerged in various US attorney offices across the nation, where the Justice Department has installed prosecutors whom district court judges determined were not properly appointed due to extended delays in Senate confirmation.

The most prominent example of this judicial-executive tension occurred in Northern Virginia last year. A federal judge dismissed several cases that then-acting US Attorney Lindsey Halligan had brought against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. The judge ruled that Halligan had not been properly appointed and lacked Senate confirmation. Following the court’s decision and subsequent criticism of her tenure, Halligan eventually stepped down from her position. The Justice Department continues to appeal the dismissals related to the Comey and James cases.

Additionally, Alina Habba, a former personal attorney to Donald Trump, was compelled to resign after an appeals court determined she was improperly serving as the US attorney in New Jersey. These cases collectively illustrate the administration’s aggressive approach to reshaping federal prosecutorial leadership.

The lawsuit filed by the US attorney who Trump fired so quickly seeks not only to restore his position but also to establish clearer legal precedent regarding the appointment process. CNN’s Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report.