Judge Rules Essayli Unlawful Acting U.S. Attorney

U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright ruled that Bilal (Bill) Essayli, appointed by the Trump administration, unlawfully assumed the role of acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California and is disqualified from performing the functions of that office. The judge found Essayli exceeded the 120‑day interim limit after resigning an earlier interim appointment and therefore lacked a lawful appointment or Senate confirmation. Seabright allowed Essayli to remain as the office’s first assistant and to perform the duties of that position. The court declined to dismiss or void three indictments tied to cases Essayli oversaw, finding they were lawfully signed by other prosecutors and showed no due‑process violations. The decision follows similar rulings against other Trump‑appointed acting U.S. attorneys and could create a leadership vacuum in the Central District, which serves about 19 million people. The Justice Department and White House may appeal, leaving short‑term uncertainty over case supervision and future appointments.