Judge Rules Bill Essayli Is Not Lawfully Serving as Los Angeles's Top Prosecutor
A federal judge has ruled that Bill Essayli is not legally serving as the top U.S. prosecutor in Los Angeles, according to The Guardian. Judge Michael Seabright found that Essayli was serving unlawfully even with "special attorney" and "first assistant" designations.
Essayli, a Republican and Trump-appointed prosecutor, was disqualified from overseeing two criminal prosecutions in which attorneys had challenged his authority. The order will not take effect immediately. The U.S. Department of Justice said it intends to appeal, meaning it plans to ask a higher court to review the ruling.
Essayli's full name is Bilal A. Essayli. He became interim U.S. attorney in April 2025, a temporary role, without being formally nominated by the president for Senate confirmation. Senate confirmation is the vote by the full U.S. Senate that normally follows a presidential nomination for this post. The Justice Department announced at the time that he had been sworn in as United States Attorney for the Central District of California, the federal district that includes Los Angeles.
A Justice Department web page for the office lists him as First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District, the office's deputy head, and says he leads a team of 500 lawyers.
According to the Associated Press, the ruling is the latest development in a dispute over his authority. The Justice Department has said it will appeal, and the order's effect is on hold while that process proceeds.
