SEATTLE — A judge-appointed pick to lead federal prosecutors in western Washington was removed by the White House less than an hour after his name was posted, leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington without a confirmed permanent leader.
What happened in Seattle
On July 15, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo designated former King County judge Roger Rogoff to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Within an hour of the court order being posted, the Biden-era appointment was blocked by the White House and Rogoff was fired, according to local reporting.
The seat has been without a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since Nick Brown left the post in 2023. In the interim, the office has been run by a succession of interim or acting leaders, most recently First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd, who had been handling duties in the office.
Federal and local reaction
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the White House’s authority to remove a judge-appointed interim U.S. attorney. He wrote in response to the firing:
"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."
Sen. Patty Murray criticized the decision, saying Rogoff was qualified and had been appointed legally. Local legal and political leaders in King County and around the Puget Sound region have raised concerns about continued instability in leadership at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which handles federal criminal prosecutions and civil matters affecting the region.
Context and local impact
The abrupt firing is part of a broader pattern of quick removals: earlier the same day, the administration dismissed two other U.S. attorneys — Donal Kinsella in New York and Desiree Grace in New Jersey — shortly after they were appointed. But western Washington’s situation is notable because the district has lacked a permanent, Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney for more than three years.
- Operational strain: Repeated leadership changes can hinder continuity in prosecutions, grant-making, and coordination with state and local law enforcement.
- Limited tenure for interim leaders: Interims can serve only briefly without a presidential nomination and Senate confirmation, constraining longer-term planning.
- Local concerns: Elected officials and legal observers worry about disruptions to caseload management and high-profile prosecutions.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Nick Brown leaves post; seat becomes unfilled |
| Feb 2026 | Charles Neil Floyd serves as acting lead |
| July 15, 2026 | Judge Estudillo names Roger Rogoff; White House fires him within an hour |
Local prosecutors and defense attorneys say an enduring vacancy at the top of the U.S. Attorney’s Office complicates relationships with state and local prosecutors and can slow decision-making on charging policies and resource allocations. Federal cases ranging from drug trafficking to public corruption rely on steady leadership to set priorities and manage staffing.
For now, the Western District of Washington continues to operate under temporary leadership while the White House and the courts navigate an unusual clash over who may place a temporary U.S. attorney into office. Residents and community leaders in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties should expect continued turnover until a nominee is confirmed by the Senate or a new arrangement is reached.
I will continue monitoring local court filings, statements from the Department of Justice and reactions from Washington’s congressional delegation and will report further developments as they are confirmed.
