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Ninth Circuit Bars Sigal Chattah From Nevada Prosecutions

8/19/2026

32 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Ninth Circuit Blocks

Ninth Circuit ruled on August 18, 2026 that Sigal Chattah was unlawfully appointed as acting U.S. attorney for Nevada.
The panel found Pam Bondi’s title changes violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the judges unanimously rejected the DOJ’s delegation argument, upholding a lower-court order barring Chattah from three Nevada prosecutions.
The Justice Department said it will appeal, citing a similar December 2025 ruling against Alina Habba.

Summary

Nevada Senators Condemn

Democratic Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto praised the ruling, calling Chattah unfit and urging his departure.
The senators met with Las Vegas lawyer George Kelesis and are reviewing his nomination as permanent U.S. attorney.
Nevada Democratic leaders condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to keep political allies in the U.S. attorney role as extremist and a breach of Senate-confirmation norms.

History

Historical Context

The Federal Vacancies Reform Act, signed by President Bill Clinton on Oct. 21 1998 after Senator Fred Thompson guided it through the 105th Congress, imposed a 210-day cap on acting officials. By that year temporary appointments covered roughly 20 % of the 320 Senate-confirmed posts, leading the Justice Department to issue advisory opinions. Federal court decisions in 2025 and 2026 have since reinforced the Act’s limits.

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Ninth Circuit Blocks

Ninth Circuit ruled on August 18, 2026 that Sigal Chattah was unlawfully appointed as acting U.S. attorney for Nevada.
The panel found Pam Bondi’s title changes violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the judges unanimously rejected the DOJ’s delegation argument, upholding a lower-court order barring Chattah from three Nevada prosecutions.
The Justice Department said it will appeal, citing a similar December 2025 ruling against Alina Habba.

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