A dramatic constitutional clash unfolded in Washington state this week when the Trump White House moved at lightning speed to shut down what critics describe as a judicial power grab.
Just 54 minutes stood between Roger Rogoff’s swearing-in ceremony and his termination notice.
The former King County Superior Court judge had been handpicked by all 17 federal judges sitting on the Western District of Washington bench to seize control of the US Attorney’s office — a move that bypassed the White House entirely.
President Trump’s team wasted no time responding. An email landed in Rogoff’s inbox notifying him of his firing at 8:34 a.m., mere minutes after he took his oath at 7:40 a.m.
The judges had targeted Neil Floyd, a conservative-leaning former immigration judge serving as First Assistant US Attorney, for removal.
Their justification rested on a disputed legal provision permitting judicial appointments when the president has not yet forwarded a formal nomination to the Senate. Floyd had never received that nomination.
Legal scholars and administration officials alike have pointed to Article II of the Constitution, which reserves the power to select US attorneys for the president alone — not for members of the judiciary.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered a blunt rebuke of the judges’ actions, declaring, “Judges don’t pick US Attorneys, President Trump does.”
Blanche didn’t stop there, offering a detailed account of what he characterized as a breakdown in protocol.
“District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them,” Blanche said. “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.”
Silence from the White House has followed Rogoff since his abrupt dismissal. He confirmed that no one from the administration reached out to him either before or after his brief appointment.
Legal retaliation appears to be Rogoff’s next move. He told the Seattle Times, “We are working on legal action right now.”
Behind-the-scenes drama also emerged from the chaotic morning.
Podcaster and journalist Brandi Kruse, citing knowledgeable sources, reported that Rogoff had tried to physically remove Floyd from his office hours before Rogoff himself was shown the door.
Washington’s clash is far from unique.
Comparable standoffs between sitting federal judges and the Trump Justice Department have already erupted in New York and New Jersey, with the administration firing judge-installed attorneys in both states.
Senate Democrat Patty Murray leapt to Rogoff’s defense, framing his firing as an attack on qualified public servants.
“Roger Rogoff’s is eminently qualified,” Murray declared. “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.”
Murray escalated her criticism, accusing the president of favoring 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 said. “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 blasting the administration’s handling of the Justice Department.
“The people of Washington state deserve someone in this role who will enforce the law fairly and responsibly—not some Trump administration sock puppet,” Murray said. “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.”
Floyd’s own path to his current role traces back to October 2025, when former Attorney General Pam Bondi placed him in the interim US Attorney position.
A statutory 120-day clock forced his promotion to First Assistant US Attorney in February once his interim term lapsed.
Murray herself blocked Floyd’s advancement toward permanent nomination, invoking the Senate’s “blue slip” custom — an unofficial but powerful tool granting home-state senators veto leverage over nominees. Facing that opposition, Trump’s team never formally submitted Floyd’s nomination.
Floyd remains at his post today, unaffected by the judges’ failed attempt to replace him. Rogoff’s termination effectively restored the status quo within hours of its disruption.
The Western District of Washington carries outsized significance in the broader legal battle over Trump’s second-term agenda, having hosted numerous lawsuits against his administration’s policies since his return to office in 2025.
This latest confrontation adds fresh fuel to an ongoing national debate over which branch of government truly holds the reins on federal prosecutorial appointments.
