Ninth Circuit pauses Rogoff's reinstatement as Seattle US attorney while appeal proceeds
The 9th Circuit granted the Justice Department an administrative stay on Oct. 4, halting a district judge's order that had reinstated Roger Rogoff as US attorney in Seattle. The order says it does not decide the merits.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department an administrative stay on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, pausing a lower-court order that had reinstated Roger Rogoff as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. Washington ExaminerR “The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department’s request for an administrative stay on Oct. 4” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Just the NewsRC “The ruling pauses a recent district court order that blocked President Trump from firing Rogoff” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2The appeals court said the stay is only meant to preserve the status quo until the request for a stay pending appeal can be considered, and does not decide the merits of the appeal. Just the NewsRC “only intended to preserve the status quo until the substantive motion for a pending appeal can be considered on the merits” Read at Just the News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “The order does not resolve the underlying legal dispute over whether Trump had the authority to remove Rogoff” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Rogoff remains out of office while the 9th Circuit considers the DOJ's request for a stay pending appeal. Washington ExaminerR “The 9th Circuit will next consider the DOJ’s request for a stay pending appeal. Rogoff remains out of office in the meantime.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 1The stay followed an Oct. 1 ruling by U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian, chief judge of the Eastern District of Washington and an Obama appointee, who granted Rogoff a preliminary injunction and ordered his reinstatement. Washington ExaminerR “Sunday’s order followed an Oct. 1 ruling by U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian, chief judge of the Eastern District of Washington, granting Rogoff a preliminary injunction and ordering his reinstatement.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Bastian wrote that Rogoff "has been the rightful holder of that office since July 15, 2026," the day he was sworn in, and barred the administration from treating him as removed or blocking his access to the office, staff and pay. Washington ExaminerR “has been the rightful holder of that office since July 15, 2026,” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 2Rogoff, a former federal prosecutor and King County Superior Court judge, was appointed unanimously by Western District judges in July; Trump fired him by email less than an hour after he took the oath. Washington ExaminerR “Trump fired him by email less than an hour after he took the oath of office.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Just the NewsRC “appointed by a federal court in July to be Seattle’s U.S. attorney, then fired minutes later” Read at Just the News ↗
Right · 2Rogoff sued in July and was the first court-appointed U.S. attorney to challenge a firing by the Trump administration; the case tests the scope of the president's removal powers. Washington ExaminerR “becoming the first court-appointed U.S. attorney to challenge his firing by the Trump administration” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Just the NewsRC “A case is testing the scope of a president’s removal powers under the Constitution.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1Federal law lets the attorney general appoint an interim U.S. attorney for 120 days, after which district judges may appoint someone until a presidential nominee is confirmed; Trump has nominated Pete Serrano, whose confirmation is pending. Washington ExaminerR “Federal law allows the attorney general to appoint an interim U.S. attorney for 120 days.”“Trump has nominated Pete Serrano, a former Pasco mayor and first assistant U.S. attorney in Eastern Washington” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Trump has fired several court-appointed U.S. attorneys in his second term, asserting presidential authority to remove them. Washington ExaminerR “Trump has fired several court-appointed U.S. attorneys during his second term, asserting presidential authority to remove them.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 1Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon responded "obviously" on X to news of the reversal, and Washington State Republican Party chairman Jim Walsh called Bastian's ruling "patently illegal", though the appeals court left the removal-power question open. Washington ExaminerR “responded “obviously” on X when informed the lower court had been reversed”“calling Bastian’s ruling “patently illegal.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both right-leaning outlets report the stay as a procedural win for the administration, while noting it does not settle the merits.
- Emphasis
- Just the News stresses the DOJ's ability to remove Rogoff; the Washington Examiner adds detail on Bastian's ruling, Trump's nominee Serrano, and reactions from Dhillon and Walsh.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither includes comment from Rogoff or his supporters. Just the News gives no detail on the Oct. 1 ruling.
- Charged language
- “patently illegal”
- For example
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“Court allows DOJ to remove court-appointed US Attorney Rogoff as case goes through appeals process” — Just the News
“Appeals court halts reinstatement of Seattle prosecutor fired by Trump” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- The 9th Circuit granted the DOJ a stay on Sunday that pauses the order reinstating Rogoff.
- The stay is meant only to preserve the status quo and does not decide the merits.
- Rogoff was appointed by the district court in July and fired by Trump shortly after.
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals organisation
Granted an administrative stay only to preserve the status quo, expressly not deciding the merits.
“does not consider in any way a decision as to the merits of the appeal” — Just the News
Donald Trump person
Fired Rogoff, asserting presidential authority to remove court-appointed U.S. attorneys.
“Trump has fired several court-appointed U.S. attorneys during his second term, asserting presidential authority to remove them.” — Washington Examiner
Roger Rogoff person
Sued over his removal and won a preliminary injunction reinstating him, now paused.
“Rogoff sued over his removal in July” — Washington Examiner
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Court allows DOJ to remove court-appointed US Attorney Rogoff as case goes through appeals process
Neutral Short report framing the stay as allowing DOJ to remove Rogoff, with the court's caveat about the merits.
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Appeals court halts reinstatement of Seattle prosecutor fired by Trump
Neutral Detailed report that notes Republican reactions and points out that the court left the removal question unresolved.
- 5 Oct 14:18 First Just the NewsRC Court allows DOJ to remove court-appointed US Attorney Rogoff as case goes through appeals process
- 5 Oct 17:20 +3h 2m Washington ExaminerR Appeals court halts reinstatement of Seattle prosecutor fired by Trump
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.