Bill Essayli Got A New Job Description, But A Judge Says It’s Still The Same Fake Job

U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright ruled on Tuesday that Bill Essayli remains unlawfully serving as a de facto U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, despite a job title change to Assistant U.S. Attorney this summer.

Seabright, a George W. Bush appointee from Hawaii hearing the case because all Central District of California judges recused themselves, issued the order disqualifying Essayli from participating in or supervising any attorneys handling the cases before the court.

Last fall, Seabright had ruled that Essayli lacked legal authority to serve as acting U.S. Attorney following the expiration of his 120-day interim term. That decision permitted him to continue running the office in the role of First Assistant U.S. Attorney. Essayli has held multiple titles in 19 months, including Interim U.S. Attorney, Acting U.S. Attorney, Special Attorney, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney.

The Tuesday ruling strips away the remaining authority Seabright had allowed.