By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-01 23:22:07 | Updated at 2026-10-02 00:04:55
1 hour ago
King County Superior Court Judge Roger Rogoff stands in court in Seattle on Oct. 10, 2016. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File
A federal judge on Thursday said the Trump administration had to reinstate a Seattle court-appointed federal prosecutor who had been fired by President Donald Trump less than an hour after he was appointed by the district’s federal judges.
Chief Judge Stanley Bastian granted a preliminary injunction in the federal court in Washington, reinstating Roger Rogoff while he challenges his firing in court. Rogoff filed a lawsuit in July after his dismissal as the court-appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington.
The U.S. Department of Justice said it will appeal.
“We disagree with the decision and intend to seek an immediate stay and will appeal,” DOJ Principal Deputy press secretary Kiersten Pels told The Epoch Times via email.
Rogoff said he is “gratified that the district court recognized the importance of following the Constitution and following the law. Now I need to get to work.”
The judges of the Western District of Washington appointed Rogoff after the post had remained vacant without a Senate-confirmed nominee.
Presidents generally appoint U.S. attorneys, who serve as the top federal prosecutors in each judicial district. The positions need Senate confirmation except when they are temporary appointments.
When those temporary arrangements expire, judges in the judicial district can name a replacement U.S. attorney.
“Rogoff is the United States attorney for the Western District of Washington, and has been the rightful holder of that office since July 15, 2026, when he took the oath of office,” Bastian said. “Congress did not give the power to fill this inferior office to the president alone.”
Bastian, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, said Trump “cannot unilaterally fire a United States attorney appointed by the district court.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced July 15 that Trump fired Rogoff shortly after his appointment.
Blanche said district judges could appoint temporary U.S. attorneys but maintained that the president had authority to remove them. He also accused the judges of bypassing the customary consultation with the administration to ensure their selection was qualified to serve under its leadership.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) called the ruling “a win for our democracy,” in a post on X.
Reuters contributed to this story.
