Judge disqualifies Nevada acting U.S. attorney
U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell ruled Sept. 30, 2025 that Sigal Chattah — a Trump‑appointed acting U.S. attorney in Nevada — is "not validly serving" and barred her from supervising four criminal prosecutions, finding her interim appointment ran afoul of the federal 120‑day limit. Campbell ordered government lawyers in the affected cases to confirm within seven days that Chattah is not directing their work; he left the indictments intact while criticizing the administration’s pattern of serial temporary appointments that bypass Senate confirmation.
Legal
Politics
🔍 Key Facts
- Judge David G. Campbell (D. Ariz.) disqualified acting U.S. attorney Sigal Chattah from overseeing four Nevada criminal prosecutions on Sept. 30, 2025.
- The ruling cites the federal statute that limits interim U.S. attorney service to 120 days unless a Senate‑confirmed nominee is in place; the judge said Chattah was 'not validly serving.'
- Campbell ordered government attorneys to tell the court within seven days that Chattah is not directing their work; indictments were not dismissed.
📍 Contextual Background
- Federal prosecutors commonly resolve federal criminal charges through plea agreements, which typically result in a sentence below the statutory maximum.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executes search warrants at residences and family homes as part of criminal investigations.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates incidents of targeted violence.