Nevada Federal Public Defenders Challenge Acting U.S. Attorney Appointment

Nevada's acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah is facing mounting legal challenges regarding the legitimacy of her appointment. Originally appointed interim U.S. Attorney by President Donald Trump for 120 days, her tenure was extended by an additional 210 days through a designation as acting U.S. Attorney, a move contested by Nevada's federal public defender's office as unlawful. The public defenders argue that this extension circumvents statutory limits and undermines the authority of district judges to appoint interim U.S. attorneys, seeking to disqualify Chattah and dismiss cases she has prosecuted. Nevada's Democratic Senators have opposed her appointment, viewing it as a politically motivated maneuver, while Chattah defends her role, citing her defense background and disputing claims of unconstitutionality. Similar appointment disputes have occurred in other states, notably New Jersey, where a federal judge ruled the acting U.S. Attorney’s appointment unlawful, intensifying scrutiny on such administrative tactics. The ongoing legal debate highlights tensions between the Trump administration's appointment practices and judicial oversight in federal prosecutorial appointments.