Judge rules that acting federal prosecutor in Los Angeles acts illegally
Federal Judge Michael Seabright said acting federal prosecutor cannot oversee court proceedings; Bill Essayli declared he will continue in the position
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the acting federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Los Angeles has been illegally serving for months by remaining in the position longer than the law allows.
Federal District Judge Michael Seabright ruled that acting federal prosecutor Bill Essayli, who oversees the DOJ office in the Central District of California, cannot supervise the court proceedings against three people accused of firearms offenses. The motion to recuse Essayli was filed by the three defendants in the federal case, seeking to have the charges against them dismissed, which was rejected by the federal judge.