{
  "id": 1753242,
  "title": "Appeals court says Trump-appointed US attorney in Nevada can’t legally serve in the role",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/appeals-court-says-trump-appointed-us-attorney-in-nevada-cant-legally-1753242",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T16:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/sigal-chattah-us-attorney-nevada-124dd11b6c052e3a2cfa86a3934f2b74"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A federal appeals court has declared that Sigal Chattah, the first U.S. attorney chosen by the Trump administration for Nevada, was unlawfully appointed to her position. The ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals adds to the difficulties Trump faced in appointing handpicked U.S. attorneys, which were intended to bypass Senate confirmation. This strategy required bipartisan support, which is typically not readily available. Chattah has been operating as the first assistant U.S. attorney since a lower court judge temporarily halted a ruling that disallowed her from handling several criminal cases while an appeal was ongoing. In February, the White House appointed George Kelesis as Chattah's replacement, but Kelesis still needs to go through the Senate nomination process. Kelesis, a native of Las Vegas, has been practicing law in the area since 1981. The administration's selection of Kelesis in February suggested their uncertainty about Chattah's position in the role following setbacks in similar cases nationwide. Chattah, known for her conservative views, was appointed as interim U.S. attorney in 2025 but faced Senate opposition from Nevada's Democratic senators. They publicly stated that they would obstruct her appointment if the administration attempted to make it permanent. The Trump administration maintained that Chattah was acting as the U.S. attorney lawfully and could continue serving for 210 days following the nomination process, should it result in a rejection, withdrawal, or a return of the nomination.",
  "summary": "LAS VEGAS (AP) — An appeals court has ruled that Sigal Chattah, the Trump administration’s initial pick for U.S. attorney in Nevada, was unlawfully appointed to lead federal prosecutions in the state. The decision Monday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…",
  "key_points": [
    "Sigal Chattah, Trump's first Nevada U.S. attorney, unlawfully appointed.",
    "9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules against Chattah's appointment.",
    "George Kelesis, appointed as Chattah's replacement, still needs Senate confirmation."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}