District judge keeps Essayli head of DOJ Office

Bill Essayli will continue leading the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California despite being improperly appointed, a federal judge ruled Oct. 28.

California Central District Judge John Michael Seabright wrote that Essayli has authority to supervise the office as First Assistant United States Attorney, despite finding that he had no authority to do so as Acting United States Attorney, a position Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed Essayli has had for months.

The ruling leaves the office of US Attorney for the Central District of California empty. Federal law, cited by public defenders in the motion to disqualify Essayli, gives the district court the ability to appoint US Attorneys if the office is empty.