Judge reinstates Seattle U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff, blocks Trump firing

U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian, an Obama appointee, issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday that reinstated Roger Rogoff as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington and barred the Trump administration from treating him as lawfully removed.

The order follows a rapid‑fire dismissal by the White House – Rogoff was removed 54 minutes after taking the oath of office on July 15 after district judges appointed him to fill a vacancy that had persisted without a Senate‑confirmed successor.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital that “U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President,” arguing that the Constitution gives the president broad authority to fire such officials. The administration cited a 1979 Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel opinion and a 2000 federal appeals court decision that both concluded the president may remove any U.S. attorney.

Judge Bastian rejected that argument, stating that “Congress did not give the power to fill this inferior office to the president alone” and that the president “cannot unilaterally fire a United States attorney appointed by the district court.” The injunction also ordered the Justice Department to allow Rogoff full access to the resources of his office.

Department of Justice officials responded on X, saying, “We disagree with the decision and intend to seek an immediate stay and will appeal.” Legal analysts noted that the case revives a broader constitutional dispute that has surfaced in other states, including New Jersey, Virginia and New York, where the Trump administration similarly challenged court‑appointed prosecutors.

Former Justice Department lawyer Abhishek Kambli said the matter could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, noting that the Supreme Court has historically limited presidential removal power to “inferior officers with limited duties and no policymaking or administrative authority.”

Bill Shipley, a former federal prosecutor, warned that even if Rogoff remains in his post, the Attorney General could reassign staff and effectively curtail his operational control.

Rogoff expressed relief at the ruling, stating, “Now I need to get to work,” and affirmed his commitment to fulfilling the duties of the office under the Constitution and federal law.

The Justice Department has signaled that it will pursue an appeal, leaving the legal battle over presidential removal authority unresolved pending higher‑court review.