The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to review a 9th Circuit decision that limits its power to appoint acting U.S. attorneys. In its filing, the administration argues the lower court's ruling would throw five U.S. Attorney's Offices into disarray, affecting more than 8,000 civil and criminal cases annually across the circuit.
The dispute centers on whether the administration can install acting prosecutors without following the standard Senate confirmation process for U.S. attorneys. The 9th Circuit sided with challengers who said the appointments were invalid, prompting the administration to seek the justices' intervention.
The administration's brief emphasizes the practical stakes, warning of "mass confusion" in offices that handle a heavy caseload. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to take up the case, but the petition sets up a potential review of executive appointment powers under the Appointments Clause.