In a move that ignites a significant constitutional battle, an Obama-appointed judge has halted President Trump’s bid to remove Roger Rogoff, the court-appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Judge Stanley Bastian issued a preliminary injunction, ordering the Justice Department to recognize Rogoff as the legitimate officeholder and restore his ability to serve, directly challenging the administration’s assertion of presidential authority to fire U.S. attorneys. The White House decried the ruling as an act by an “activist judge” attempting to undermine the President’s constitutional power, while the DOJ vowed to seek an immediate stay and appeal the decision. This legal showdown hinges on whether a president can dismiss U.S. attorneys appointed by federal judges, a power that has historically been supported by a 1979 Justice Department opinion and a 2000 federal appeals court ruling, but is now being directly contested by this injunction. Legal experts and conservative attorneys have sharply criticized the ruling, labeling it “lawless,” a violation of the separation of powers, and an attempt by the judiciary to appoint its own U.S. attorney, thereby infringing upon the President’s executive authority under Article II of the Constitution. The case is further complicated by the fact that Judge Bastian’s name was reportedly misspelled in the order, prompting some to question the quality of the legal work. This ruling sets a critical precedent, directly challenging the Supreme Court’s past findings in cases like Myers v. United States (1926) and the DOJ’s own 1979 opinion, and could ultimately require intervention from higher courts to resolve this unprecedented constitutional crisis over executive removal powers.
Obama Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Fire U.S. Attorney, Sparking Constitutional Clash
