Appeals Court Rules Trump's Nevada US Attorney Pick Unlawful
The 9th Circuit found Sigal Chattah has been illegally serving as Nevada's top federal prosecutor beyond the legal time limit for interim appointments.
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Sigal Chattah, the Trump administration's initial pick for U.S. attorney in Nevada, was unlawfully appointed to lead federal prosecutions in the state.
The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is another setback for the Trump administration's strategy of keeping handpicked U.S. attorneys in place beyond the 120-day limit set by federal law, a maneuver designed to avoid Senate confirmation, which typically requires bipartisan support.
Chattah has continued serving under the title of first assistant U.S. attorney since a lower-court judge paused a ruling disqualifying her from overseeing several criminal prosecutions while the appeal proceeded.
Earlier this year, the White House selected George Kelesis, a Las Vegas native who has practiced law in Nevada since 1981, as her replacement. He must still go through Senate confirmation. His nomination signaled the administration's own uncertainty about Chattah's long-term standing after similar legal setbacks elsewhere.
Chattah, a longtime conservative attorney and former Republican National Committee member, was appointed interim U.S. attorney in 2025 but never won Senate approval after opposition from Nevada's Democratic senators, who called her an extremist and election denier.
The day before her term was set to expire in July 2025, Chattah resigned. That same day, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed her first assistant U.S. attorney, saying she retained authority to serve as acting U.S. attorney. A Justice Department attorney argued Chattah could serve for up to 210 more days if Kelesis's nomination is rejected, withdrawn or returned.
Similar maneuvers by the administration failed in California and New Jersey. Alina Habba resigned in New Jersey after a court ruling went against her, while Bill Essayli continues serving in California under the same first assistant title.
Four Nevada defendants indicted on felony counts by Chattah's office argued she was illegally serving and sought dismissal of their cases or her removal from the prosecution. U.S. District Judge David Campbell agreed last fall that she had overstayed the legal limit but stayed his ruling pending appeal.
Chattah has echoed Trump's unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen and represented one of six Nevada Republicans in the state's so-called fake electors case, which a state judge recently dismissed for lack of evidence. Kelesis represents another defendant in that same case.
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen have met with Kelesis and are reviewing his nomination.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
