Federal Courts and DOJ Appointments

U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield ruled Thursday that Trump‑appointed interim U.S. attorney John Sarcone has been serving unlawfully in the Northern District of New York, disqualifying him from a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James and another case and quashing all subpoenas he issued after overstaying a 120‑day statutory limit. The decision, which criticizes the executive branch for skirting congressional restraints to investigate political adversaries, is the latest in a series of rulings finding Trump‑installed interim U.S. attorneys in several districts were improperly appointed or extended without Senate confirmation.