All articles tagged with #us attorney
Hours after Virginia judges unanimously named James W Hundley interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Trump administration fired him—marking a second such firing this month of a prosecutor appointed by judges—as Deputy AG Todd Blanche asserted the president makes the appointment, underscoring a clash over interim U.S. attorney authority.
A panel of judges in the Eastern District of Virginia appointed veteran litigator James W. Hundley as interim U.S. attorney, but Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche fired him hours later, underscoring a broader clash over whether courts or the president/DOJ appoint interim U.S. attorneys and highlighting ongoing disputes over interim leadership in federal offices.
The Department of Justice dismissed James Hundley from his post as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia just hours after federal judges unanimously appointed him, with Deputy AG Todd Blanche announcing the firing. Hundley had succeeded Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was ruled unlawful, and this marks another instance of a judges-appointed U.S. Attorney being removed by the DOJ.
Judge M. Hannah Lauck in Virginia appointed James W. Hundley as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, replacing a Trump-era appointee, but Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche fired Hundley two hours later in a social-media post—marking the second such ouster this month and highlighting ongoing tensions between the federal judiciary and the DOJ over interim U.S. attorney appointments.
Hours after Eastern District of Virginia judges appointed James Hundley as interim U.S. attorney to replace Lindsey Halligan, the Justice Department said Hundley was fired, highlighting a clash between the DOJ and the White House. Deputy AG Todd Blanche publicly announced the firing on social media, and Halligan’s brief tenure followed controversial prosecutions that a federal court ruled were invalid, underscoring that EDVA judges have the authority to appoint a U.S. attorney until Senate confirmation.
Trump-nominated Darin Smith, a former Wyoming state senator with no federal or criminal litigation experience, is awaiting Senate confirmation to become Wyoming’s US attorney and has drawn Democratic criticism as unqualified and potentially discriminatory; he has served as interim US attorney since his initial nomination, has faced questions about his January 6 Capitol presence (he says he was on the grounds but did not enter), and his confirmation is being weighed amid partisan dynamics.
AP sources report further departures at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office, continuing a personnel shake-up that coincides with heightened public scrutiny of federal enforcement in Minneapolis, including detentions and immigration operations that sparked protests.
Defense lawyers urged a federal judge to dismiss cases in New Jersey, arguing the U.S. Attorney’s Office is unlawfully run by unconfirmed appointees, creating legal uncertainty and highlighting a broader clash between executive power and the judiciary with no clear resolution in sight.
A federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia barred Lindsey Halligan from referring to herself as United States Attorney in court filings, saying her appointment was unlawful and that continuing to use the title ignores a binding court order; the DOJ had argued otherwise but reversed, and Halligan’s status remains disputed as the court seeks a replacement for the position.
The Justice Department pushed back on a federal judge’s order directing Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to use the title 'U.S. attorney' in Virginia court filings, saying Halligan did not misrepresent anything and that the judge’s earlier ruling invalidating her appointment remains in effect, as the DOJ appeals without seeking a stay; Halligan’s combative response accuses the judge of rudimentary legal errors, underscoring ongoing tensions between the Trump administration’s DOJ appointees and the federal judiciary.
The Justice Department has filed a brief defending Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s pick to lead the Eastern District of Virginia’s US Attorney’s Office, after several judges questioned whether she remains the U.S. attorney since she has not been Senate-confirmed. The DOJ accuses Judge David Novak of attempting to coerce the Executive Branch and maintains Halligan’s authority to sign court papers is valid under internal DOJ guidance, even as courts scrutinize filings bearing her name in the Comey and Letitia James prosecutions. The standoff has caused turmoil within the prosecutors’ office, including the firing of Halligan’s No. 2.
A federal judge ruled that subpoenas issued to New York Attorney General Letitia James by John Sarcone were invalid because he lacked lawful authority as acting U.S. attorney, highlighting issues with appointments of acting officials without proper confirmation or appointment procedures.
A federal judge has ordered Lindsey Halligan to explain her use of the U.S. attorney title for the Eastern District of Virginia, despite a court ruling that her appointment was unlawful, raising concerns about potential false statements and disciplinary action.
A federal judge disqualified Bill Essayli from serving as the top U.S. attorney in Los Angeles due to illegal appointment procedures, marking the third legal setback for Trump loyalists in key law enforcement roles amid ongoing legal scrutiny of their appointments.
A federal judge in California ruled that the acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California has been unlawfully serving due to lack of Senate confirmation, but the cases he prosecuted remain valid. The ruling highlights ongoing legal disputes over appointments of acting U.S. attorneys during the Trump administration, with similar cases in Nevada, New Jersey, and Virginia.