Judge finds Bill Essayli unlawfully serving as de facto U.S. attorney
Source published: Oct 27, 2026 · 9:08 PM EDT · Event: 2026-10-27
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright ruled that Bill Essayli was unlawfully serving as the de facto U.S. attorney for the Central District of California and disqualified him from participating in or supervising the prosecutions of Jaime Hector Ramirez and Tu Anh Tran. Seabright concluded that designating Essayli as first assistant U.S. attorney and special attorney, then revising his delegated duties, did not materially distinguish the arrangement from one the Ninth Circuit had rejected in a Nevada case. The judge declined to dismiss either indictment, finding that the defendants had not shown the substantial prejudice required for that relief.
Response / context
The disqualification did not take immediate effect. Seabright gave the government five business days to seek a stay pending appeal and delayed enforcement while that request is considered. Essayli said he respectfully disagreed, argued that the president and attorney general may select Justice Department supervisors, and predicted the Supreme Court would decide the issue. Defense attorney H. Dean Steward called the decision a victory for the rule of law and the Constitution. Those statements are the parties' positions. The ruling concerns Essayli's authority and two prosecutions; it does not decide the defendants' guilt or automatically invalidate other cases handled by the office.
Dates and scope
Source publication: Oct 27, 2026 · 9:08 PM EDT
Event or conduct: 2026-10-27. U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright issued the ruling on October 27, 2026. The Los Angeles Times published at 6:08 p.m. PDT October 27, Associated Press distributed its report at 12:36 a.m. EDT October 28, and CBS Los Angeles published at 9:41 p.m. PDT October 27. The Ledger reviewed those reports and the available public docket history at 5:06 a.m. EDT October 28. The ruling, news-publication times and source-review time are distinct.
Dated report. Publication, event and review times are different; the review time is when the sources were last checked, not a live update.
This brief preserves the available response and disposition. Coverage is non-exhaustive. How we review sources.
Read the original sources
- Associated Press: Federal judge rules top US prosecutor in Los Angeles isn't legally serving ↗
October 28 report distributed at 12:36 a.m. EDT describing Seabright's holding, the delayed effect, the Ninth Circuit comparison and Essayli's response
- Los Angeles Times, Brittny Mejia: Judge finds L.A.'s top federal prosecutor is unlawfully serving, bars him from two cases ↗
October 27 report identifying Ramirez and Tran, the refusal to dismiss their indictments, the five-business-day stay schedule and responses from Essayli and defense counsel
- CBS Los Angeles, Matthew Rodriguez: Judge rules that Essayli has been unlawfully serving as LA's top federal prosecutor ↗
October 27 local report preserving the scope of the two-case disqualification, delayed enforcement and refusal to dismiss the indictments
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