In a dramatic legal and political showdown, newly appointed U.S. Attorney Roger Rogoff was fired by the Trump administration less than an hour after being sworn into office on Wednesday morning. The unprecedentedly brief tenure has triggered an immediate clash between local federal judges trying to maintain courtroom operations and a White House determined to maintain absolute control over the Department of Justice.
A Chronology of a Vacancy
The position of U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington has faced a prolonged leadership void, sparking a game of legal chess that culminated in Wednesday’s swift firing.
Nick Brown Resigns
June 21, 2023
The last presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney, Nick Brown, steps down to run for Washington State Attorney General (an election he ultimately won in November 2024).
Tessa Gorman is Appointed
January 19, 2024
Following a temporary acting term, Attorney General Merrick Garland officially appoints Tessa M. Gorman to a 120-day interim term. The district court later extends her service until a permanent successor is confirmed.
Gorman Dismissed by Trump
February 13, 2025
Shortly after returning to office, President Donald Trump dismisses Gorman alongside dozens of other holdover federal prosecutors across the nation.
Judges Announce Search
January 2026
After another interim appointment (Charles Neil Floyd) expires, and with the Trump administration yet to nominate a permanent candidate for Senate confirmation, the district judges announce they will fill the vacancy themselves.
Rogoff Sworn In and Fired
July 15, 2026
Roger Rogoff is sworn in by federal judges on Wednesday morning. He is fired via email from the White House less than 60 minutes later.
Why the Judges Stepped In
The decision to bypass the executive branch relied on a rarely used federal law: Title 28, Section 546(d) of the U.S. Code. This statute gives local federal district court judges the power to appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney if an administrative vacancy stretches on without a Senate-confirmed replacement.
Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo signed the order appointing Rogoff, stating the bench acted “to ensure the integrity and effective administration of justice in this District.” The Western District of Washington employs around 85 criminal and civil attorneys, handling critical federal cases in Seattle and Tacoma that the judges argued could not be left in administrative limbo.
The White House Rebounds Vigorously
The administration moved immediately to nullify the court’s choice. Rogoff was waiting in his new office to meet with top staff when he received a termination email from the White House.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche took to social media to publicly reprimand the Seattle bench. Writing on X, Blanche accused the judges of abandoning the “time-honored process” of consulting with the executive branch before filling such a post. Blanche emphasized that while district judges have the statutory authority to appoint temporary prosecutors, the President retains the ultimate constitutional power to fire them.
The U.S. Department of Justice echoed this stance, stating that the termination fell squarely within the President’s executive authority.
The Ousted Prosecutor Reacts
Rogoff, an experienced legal figure who served 14 years as a King County prosecutor, six years as an assistant U.S. attorney, and seven years as a Superior Court judge, described the experience as a whirlwind.
“For someone who has been a criminal practitioner, it is the highest honor you can probably have,” Rogoff told local reporters. He described the termination as “not unexpected, but disappointing,” adding that the administration had provided no prior warning before sending the dismissal email.
What Comes Next?
The abrupt firing leaves the state’s most active federal judicial district right back where it started, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd continuing to manage the day-to-day operations of the office.
Political lines have drawn quickly. Washington Senator Patty Murray released a statement calling Rogoff “eminently qualified” and arguing that the state deserves a prosecutor who enforces the law fairly rather than serving political whims.
The fight is far from over: Rogoff has already announced that he plans to take legal action challenging the validity of his rapid termination, though his legal team has not yet established a formal timeline for filing the lawsuit.