A federal appeals court panel upheld an order disqualifying Sigal Chattah from her position as the top federal prosecutor in Nevada. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Justice Department's appointment and delegation mechanisms used after her interim term ended were unlawful. This ruling disqualifies Chattah from overseeing prosecutions in three criminal cases.
Chattah, who previously served as a Republican National Committee member, was appointed interim U.S. attorney on April 1, 2025, for a term of up to 120 days. As her term was nearing its end, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi designated her as first assistant U.S. attorney after she resigned from her interim role. The Justice Department argued this designation allowed her to serve as acting U.S. attorney under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
Federal public defenders challenged Chattah's authority, leading to a ruling by U.S. District Judge David Campbell in September that sided with them. The appeals court found that a first assistant could only become acting U.S. attorney if they held that position when the vacancy occurred. The panel rejected the Justice Department's arguments regarding Chattah's designation and delegation of duties.
This ruling marks another setback for the Trump administration's attempts to maintain temporary appointees in top federal prosecutor roles without Senate confirmation. Trump did not nominate Chattah for the permanent position, instead nominating George Kelesis in February 2026.