A federal judge has removed a Trump appointee from overseeing criminal prosecutions in Nevada.
Sigal Chattah, who served as acting U.S. attorney for Nevada, was disqualified from four criminal cases by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell on Tuesday. The Hill reported that Campbell ruled her continued involvement in the cases would be unlawful due to her extended tenure without Senate confirmation.
Campbell directed Chattah to relinquish control over the prosecutions immediately. The judge noted that Chattah, former Nevada chair for the Republican National Committee, had been working under an acting title for more than the allowable 120 days.
Chattah was appointed as Nevada's interim U.S. attorney in March and received an extension from the Trump administration. The extension was granted under a federal law that prevented the federal district court from placing someone else in the role.
Traditional procedure allows judges to appoint an interim U.S. attorney after a 120-day temporary appointment expires. This standard process continues until the vacancy is permanently filled through Senate confirmation.
Campbell's ruling emphasized that federal law restricts the duration of acting appointments without proper confirmation. The judge's decision follows established precedent regarding the limits of temporary federal appointments.
Campbell has requested that government attorneys confirm within seven days that Chattah is not directing their work on the four affected criminal cases. This requirement ensures immediate compliance with the disqualification order and prevents any continued unauthorized involvement.
The judge's directive applies specifically to the criminal prosecutions from which Chattah has been removed. Government attorneys must demonstrate that proper transition procedures are being followed in these cases.
The seven-day deadline creates urgency for the Justice Department to restructure oversight of the affected prosecutions. This timeline ensures minimal disruption to ongoing criminal proceedings while establishing proper legal authority.
Chattah and other Trump appointees have been able to avoid Senate confirmation requirements for U.S. attorney positions. This pattern has drawn scrutiny from federal judges regarding the legality of extended acting appointments.
Alina Habba, former personal lawyer to President Trump, was appointed as acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. A federal judge ruled that Habba was also unlawfully serving in her role for similar reasons to Chattah's disqualification.
The parallel cases suggest a broader issue with Trump administration appointments that exceed statutory time limits. Federal judges appear increasingly willing to challenge these extended acting appointments when they violate established legal frameworks.
The Hill reached out to the Justice Department for comment regarding Chattah's removal from the criminal cases. Officials did not immediately respond to the inquiry about the disqualification or transition plans.
The Justice Department faces pressure to quickly establish proper legal authority over the affected Nevada prosecutions. This transition must occur while maintaining continuity in ongoing criminal proceedings.
Future appointments to U.S. attorney positions may face increased judicial scrutiny following these recent disqualifications. The precedent established by Campbell's ruling could influence how other federal judges evaluate the legality of extended acting appointments.