A federal judge has stripped a Trump-appointed Nevada prosecutor of her authority over multiple criminal cases, ruling that her continued service violates federal law and undermines the integrity of ongoing prosecutions.
Story Snapshot
- Federal Judge David G. Campbell disqualified Trump-appointed acting U.S. attorney Sigal Chattah from overseeing four criminal cases.
- Chattah’s statutory 120-day term expired in July, but she continued serving without proper legal authority.
- Federal public defenders successfully challenged her appointment, citing violations of federal appointment laws.
- The ruling disrupts ongoing prosecutions and raises questions about other cases handled during her expired term.
Judge Rules Against Expired Appointment
Arizona federal District Judge David G. Campbell determined that Sigal Chattah is “not validly serving” as acting U.S. attorney for Nevada, effectively removing her from supervising four criminal prosecutions.
The ruling stems from federal law requiring interim U.S. attorney appointments to terminate after 120 days unless a permanent replacement is confirmed.
Chattah’s appointment by President Trump in April expired in July, yet she continued overseeing cases without proper legal authority. This violation of statutory limits prompted judicial intervention to restore lawful prosecution procedures.
Judge disqualifies Trump-appointed Nevada prosecutor from some cases after finding she's "not validly serving" https://t.co/e0jUtvuQ2r via @CBSPolitics
— Eugene Chin (@gene038) October 1, 2025
Procedural Violations Trigger Legal Challenge
Federal public defenders initiated the challenge against Chattah’s continued service, arguing that her expired appointment compromised the legitimacy of ongoing criminal cases.
Under federal law, when a U.S. attorney position becomes vacant, district courts may appoint interim prosecutors for a maximum of 120-day terms before permanent appointments must occur.
Chattah’s persistence beyond this deadline created constitutional questions about prosecutorial authority and due process rights. The defenders’ successful challenge demonstrates how procedural compliance protects defendants’ rights and maintains judicial integrity in federal prosecutions.
Broader Implications for Federal Appointments
Campbell’s ruling establishes important precedent for judicial oversight of executive appointments that exceed statutory limits. The decision affects not only the four specific cases but potentially raises questions about other prosecutions Chattah supervised during her expired term.
Legal experts emphasize that such procedural violations can lead to case reversals and undermine public trust in federal law enforcement. The ruling reinforces constitutional checks and balances, ensuring executive appointments comply with congressional statutes designed to prevent indefinite interim positions.
Administrative Chaos Disrupts Justice System
The disqualification creates immediate operational challenges for Nevada’s federal prosecutor’s office and delays in criminal proceedings. Defendants in the four affected cases now face uncertainty about prosecution timelines and legal representation continuity.
The Nevada District Court must either appoint a new interim U.S. attorney or await a permanent Trump administration nominee to restore normal operations.
This administrative disruption exemplifies how bureaucratic failures and procedural shortcuts can compromise the justice system’s effectiveness and burden both prosecutors and defendants with unnecessary delays.
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Court disqualifies Trump-appointed US attorney in Nevada from overseeing multiple criminal cases
