Federal Judge Rules Bill Essayli Unlawfully Serving as U.S. Attorney

UPDATE: A federal judge has ruled that Bill Essayli has been unlawfully serving as the acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. The ruling was issued by Judge J. Michael Seabright on October 29, 2025, confirming that Essayli’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney has been invalid since late July.

This decision has immediate implications for the ongoing prosecution of federal cases in Los Angeles. Judge Seabright’s order states that Essayli “is not lawfully serving” in this capacity, casting uncertainty over the handling of significant legal matters in the district.

While the ruling disqualifies Essayli from his acting role, it allows him to continue in his position as first assistant U.S. attorney. In response to the decision, Essayli stated, “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 ruling stems from motions filed by three defendants who sought to dismiss indictments against them and challenge Essayli’s authority. Judge Seabright’s ruling highlights potential violations of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which restricts the ability of individuals to serve in federal positions without Senate confirmation.

Essayli was appointed by the Trump administration and sworn in on April 2 to serve as interim U.S. attorney for a period of 120 days. As his term ended on July 31, Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed him as a special attorney, effective upon his resignation as interim U.S. attorney. However, the court found that he unlawfully assumed the acting role after his resignation on July 29.

Despite the ruling against Essayli, Judge Seabright denied the defendants’ request to dismiss their indictments, stating that “the prosecutions remain valid.” This decision aligns with a series of recent court rulings against the Trump administration’s attempts to appoint individuals to high-ranking positions without requisite congressional approval.

In August, another federal judge ruled that Alina Habba, a former personal attorney to Trump, was unlawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Last month, the court found that Sigal Chattah had also been unlawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. Both cases are currently under appeal.

The implications of this latest ruling are significant, as it raises questions about the legality of numerous appointments made in recent years. Legal experts are closely monitoring how this decision may affect ongoing and future prosecutions, particularly in politically sensitive cases.

As developments unfold, the legal community and the public will be watching closely to see how these rulings impact the integrity of the federal judiciary in the Central District of California and beyond.