Federal judges bear responsibility for the constitutional conflict created by Roger Rogoff’s appointment

Federal and state court systems of the United States, judicial appointments, constitutional interpretation and the rulings that decide policy when the other branches deadlock. Life tenure for federal judges makes each confirmation a durable political stake rather than a procedural step.

Judge Stanley Bastian's October 1, 2026 preliminary injunction restored Roger Rogoff as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington after President Donald Trump fired the court-appointed prosecutor. The order bars another officeholder before Senate confirmation of a replacement, testing presidential removal authority over court-appointed U.S. attorneys.