Overview
- Schimel’s 120-day interim appointment expired March 16 after Eastern District judges said on March 10 they would not extend it.
- The First Assistant designation allows him to run the Milwaukee office without Senate confirmation or further approval from the judges.
- The Justice Department criticized the judges’ decision, saying “Judges do not pick U.S. attorneys—President Trump does.”
- Schimel said his duties will remain largely unchanged and expressed gratitude for the chance to continue serving.
- Only about 30 of 94 districts currently have Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys, with many offices led by interim or first-assistant chiefs.