Roger Rogoff Sues Trump Over Firing, Challenging Power to Oust Judge-Appointed U.S. Attorneys
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Roger Rogoff Sues Trump Over Firing, Challenging Power to Oust Judge-Appointed U.S. Attorneys
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Summary
Roger Rogoff, fired less than 1 hour after judges appointed him U.S. attorney in Washington state, sued Tuesday to contest his removal.
The lawsuit argues the president cannot dismiss U.S. attorneys chosen by district court judges, setting up the first legal test of that authority.
Washington’s district court had appointed Rogoff after the post sat vacant for months, using a legal process available when no Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney is in place.
The case opens a closely watched fight over Trump’s effort to keep tighter control of the Justice Department, where his administration has resisted judicial appointments and delayed permanent nominations.
Who controls top prosecutors: the president who can fire or the court that can hire?
What does one prosecutor’s lawsuit reveal about the future of judicial independence?
Fired in an Hour: The 2026 Roger Rogoff Case and the Battle Over Presidential Removal of Court-Appointed U.S. Attorneys
Overview
On July 15, 2026, federal judges appointed Roger Rogoff as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Rogoff publicly stated he would carry out the administration’s priorities, but the Trump administration fired him the next day. This swift dismissal sparked immediate and sharp criticism from political figures, including Senator Patty Murray, who condemned the firing as undermining judicial authority. The incident highlights a growing conflict between the judiciary’s power to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys and the President’s authority to remove them, raising major questions about the balance of power and the independence of federal prosecutions.