Full Breakdown
Trump’s 54-Minute Dismissal of a Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney
7/31/2026, 10:18:19 PM
The Rapid Firing and Subsequent Lawsuit
On July 15, the district’s 17 federal judges appointed Roger Rogoff, a 57-year-old former state and federal prosecutor, as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. President Donald Trump removed Rogoff just 54 minutes after his swearing-in. Six days later, Rogoff filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the dismissal, marking the first case to test whether a president can fire a prosecutor installed by the courts.
Judicial Response and Procedural History
The lawsuit was first assigned to Judge Ricardo Martinez, a George W. Bush appointee, who recused himself. It was then transferred to Chief Judge Stanley Bastian, a 68-year-old Obama-appointed judge from the Eastern District of Washington, who declined the Justice Department’s motion to have the case reassigned. Rogoff now asks Bastian to reinstate him, leaving the case in the hands of the judge the administration attempted to remove.
Background of Court-Appointed Prosecutors and Prior Rulings
The practice of allowing district judges to appoint temporary U.S. attorneys dates back to longstanding federal procedure. Recent appellate decisions have limited presidential attempts to install or retain prosecutors deemed improperly appointed. In November, Judge Cameron Currie ruled that a prosecutor installed by Trump in Virginia was unlawful; in December, Judge Matthew Brann found a New Jersey prosecutor similarly unlawful, a ruling upheld on appeal. Those precedents frame the current dispute over Rogoff’s termination.
Justice Department’s Position
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X that district judges may appoint temporary U.S. attorneys and that the president retains authority to fire them. A Justice Department spokesperson echoed this view, describing the dismissal as “wholly within the President’s authority.” The administration therefore maintains that Rogoff’s removal complied with the law.
Potential Implications
If Judge Bastian orders Rogoff’s reinstatement, it would reinforce judicial limits on executive control of federal prosecutors and could affect future presidential appointments. Conversely, a ruling upholding the firing would affirm broad presidential discretion in staffing U.S. attorney offices, shaping the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch.
