Overview
- U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright ruled Essayli unlawfully assumed the acting post and is disqualified from serving as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
- The judge left three challenged indictments in place because other government attorneys lawfully signed them, but barred Essayli from supervising those prosecutions.
- Essayli remains First Assistant U.S. Attorney and may perform that office’s duties after his 120‑day interim term expired in late July following an appointment by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
- The ruling follows similar findings against Alina Habba in New Jersey and Sigal Chattah in Nevada, with those decisions under appeal or temporarily paused.
- The Justice Department is expected to appeal, and related challenges continue, including a Nov. 13 hearing on Lindsey Halligan’s appointment in the Eastern District of Virginia.