A constitutional and political clash unfolded in Washington state this week as the Trump White House swiftly moved to counter what it described as an unprecedented judicial overreach. Roger Rogoff, a former King County Superior Court judge, was terminated from the position of U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington just 54 minutes after being sworn into office by a panel of federal judges. The incident highlights a contentious debate over the appointment authority for federal prosecutors, with the administration emphasizing the President's sole constitutional prerogative.
"Judges don’t pick US Attorneys, President Trump does." — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
The dramatic events began on a chaotic morning when all 17 federal judges of the Western District of Washington bench appointed Rogoff to lead the U.S. Attorney’s office. This move was intended to replace Neil Floyd, a conservative-leaning former immigration judge who had been serving as First Assistant U.S. Attorney. The judges' rationale for their action centered on a disputed legal provision that permits judicial appointments when the President has not yet submitted a formal nomination to the Senate. Floyd had not received such a nomination.
Rogoff took his oath of office at 7:40 a.m. However, his tenure was remarkably brief. An email notifying him of his termination landed in his inbox at 8:34 a.m., just minutes after he had been sworn in. This rapid response from President Trump’s team unequivocally asserted the executive branch's authority. Legal scholars and administration officials have consistently pointed to Article II of the Constitution, which reserves the power to select U.S. Attorneys solely for the President, not for members of the judiciary.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a strong condemnation of the judges’ actions. "Judges don’t pick US Attorneys, President Trump does," Blanche declared, offering a detailed account of what he characterized as a breakdown in protocol. He further elaborated, stating, "District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them. WDWA judges abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration so that the selected U.S. Attorney is qualified to serve in the administration. Roger Rogoff has been fired by the President."
Following his abrupt dismissal, Rogoff confirmed that he had not been contacted by anyone from the administration either before or after his brief appointment. He indicated that legal action is his next step, telling the Seattle Times, "We are working on legal action right now." Reports from podcaster and journalist Brandi Kruse, citing knowledgeable sources, also detailed behind-the-scenes drama, including an attempt by Rogoff to physically remove Floyd from his office hours before Rogoff himself was terminated.
The confrontation in Washington is not an isolated incident. Similar standoffs involving federal judges and the Trump Justice Department have previously occurred in New York and New Jersey, where the administration also fired judge-installed attorneys. These recurring episodes underscore a broader national discussion regarding the separation of powers and the process for federal prosecutorial appointments.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) quickly came to Rogoff’s defense, portraying his firing as an attack on qualified public servants. "Roger Rogoff’s is eminently qualified," Murray stated. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to public service, and he was appointed legally by the federal judges in the Western District of Washington." Senator Murray escalated her criticism, accusing President Trump of prioritizing loyalty over competence. "He should have never been fired, but the President wants to appoint an out-of-touch extremist who will put Trump over the rule of law," she asserted. "This administration doesn’t want to deal with advice and consent—they just want to install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda." She continued, "The people of Washington state deserve someone in this role who will enforce the law fairly and responsibly—not some Trump administration sock puppet. The President needs to understand that DOJ works for the American people—it’s not his personal law firm to enforce his mob-style politics."
Neil Floyd's path to his current role began in October 2025, when then-Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed him to the interim U.S. Attorney position. A statutory 120-day clock necessitated his promotion to First Assistant U.S. Attorney in February when his interim term expired. Senator Murray herself had blocked Floyd’s advancement toward a permanent nomination by invoking the Senate’s "blue slip" custom, an unofficial but powerful tool that grants home-state senators leverage over nominees. Faced with this opposition, President Trump’s team never formally submitted Floyd’s nomination. As a result of Rogoff’s termination, Floyd remains at his post today, unaffected by the judges’ failed attempt to replace him, effectively restoring the status quo within hours of its disruption.
The Western District of Washington holds significant importance in the broader legal landscape concerning President Trump’s second-term agenda, having been the venue for numerous lawsuits against his administration’s policies since his return to office in 2025. This latest confrontation adds fresh impetus to an ongoing national debate over which branch of government ultimately controls federal prosecutorial appointments and the delicate balance of power enshrined in the Constitution.
