U.S. Attorney appointment disputes, vacancies law, Senate confirmation and related court rulings. This page is an index: the full evidence, photo credits, videos and source ledger remain attached to the dated canonical record.
August 21, 2026 · Justice Department / U.S. Attorney appointments / Letitia James subpoenas
Second Circuit says John Sarcone was not lawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney when he subpoenaed Letitia James’s office
COURT RECORD — SECOND CIRCUIT HOLDS ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT UNLAWFUL; SUBPOENAS REMAIN QUASHED
A divided Second Circuit panel affirmed the order quashing two federal grand-jury subpoenas issued to New York Attorney General Letitia James’s office. The majority held that John Sarcone was not lawfully serving as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York when he obtained the subpoenas because the Federal Vacancies Reform Act’s automatic first-assistant pathway did not cover a first assistant installed only after the vacancy arose. DOJ says it intends to seek Supreme Court review.
August 17, 2026 · Justice Department / U.S. Attorney appointments / Court ruling
Ninth Circuit rules Nevada acting U.S. attorney appointment unlawful
COURT RECORD — ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT HELD UNLAWFUL
A three-judge Ninth Circuit panel affirmed an order disqualifying Sigal Chattah from supervising three federal prosecutions, holding that the Attorney General could not make her Acting U.S. Attorney by naming her first assistant after the Nevada U.S. Attorney vacancy already existed. The defendants’ indictments were not dismissed.
