Sigal Chattah ruled to have been unlawfully appointed as Nevada's acting U.S. attorney by federal appeals court
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that Sigal Chattah was unlawfully appointed to lead federal prosecutions in Nevada. The decision marks a significant setback for the administration's strategy to bypass the U.S. Senate confirmation process by extending the terms of handpicked federal prosecutors. Sigal Chattah was named interim U.S. attorney in 2025, but never received Senate approval due to opposition from Nevada's Democratic senators. To maintain her position, the administration designated her as the first assistant U.S. attorney after her initial 120-day term expired. However, the court affirmed that the Attorney General cannot simply designate a first assistant to fill a vacant office without Senate confirmation. The administration announced that George Kelesis will serve as the replacement, who must still undergo the Senate's nomination process. While Sigal Chattah remains in the office as first assistant, the Department of Justice plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.