Institutional independence stories

Oct 1, 2026

Federal judge blocks Trump from firing court-appointed Seattle US attorney

A federal judge in Washington state ruled that President Trump cannot fire US attorneys who have been appointed by courts, blocking the dismissal of a Seattle prosecutor who had the job for less than an hour. The ruling tests the scope of presidential authority over court-appointed interim prosecutors.

Oct 1, 20264 sources

Sep 30, 2026

Justice Department files misconduct complaint against Minnesota federal judges over immigration interviews

The DOJ filed a judicial misconduct complaint against seven federal judges in Minnesota who spoke to the New York Times about the immigration enforcement surge in their state. Attorney General Todd Blanche alleged the judges made unethical political statements on pending cases, while one judge defended the interviews as within ethical rules.

Sep 30, 20269 sources