Wed Oct 29 02:54:11 UTC 2025: ## The Hindu: US Judge Disqualifies Another Trump-Appointed Acting Attorney, Sparking Legal Battles

Los Angeles, October 29, 2025 (08:24 am IST) – In a continuing trend, a federal judge has disqualified acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in Southern California, dealing another blow to the Trump administration’s handling of U.S. attorney appointments. The ruling, issued on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright, concludes that Essayli, a Trump appointee, has remained in the temporary position longer than the 120-day limit stipulated by federal law.

The disqualification applies to Essayli’s supervision of criminal prosecutions in three specific cases. Judge Seabright stated in his decision that Essayli has been unlawfully serving in his role since his resignation from the interim role on July 29.

This follows similar rulings in recent months against other Trump-appointed acting U.S. attorneys. A judge previously ruled that Sigal Chattah, the acting U.S. attorney for Nevada, and Alina Habba, acting US attorney in New Jersey, were also serving illegally.

The Justice Department is fighting back. While the judge who initially disqualified Chattah has paused that ruling pending a federal appellate court review, allowing her temporary involvement in cases, the situation remains uncertain. An appellate court also heard arguments on Monday regarding Habba’s appointment.

Federal law dictates that if a permanent U.S. attorney is not nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate within 120 days, federal district court judges can appoint an interim replacement until the vacancy is permanently filled. Mr. Essayli has not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Essayli’s office has yet to respond to requests for comment.

This legal back-and-forth highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding the Trump administration’s appointments and adherence to established legal processes within the U.S. legal system. The outcome of the appeals in the Chattah and Habba cases will likely set a precedent for future challenges to acting U.S. attorney appointments.

(News Context Note: This article is written from the perspective of “The Hindu,” an Indian newspaper, as requested. The Hindu regularly covers international affairs, including US politics, for its Indian readership. The provided text outlines the content that is typically found within various sections of the publication.)

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