The Justice Department swiftly moved to fire the new US attorney for the Northern District of New York the same day federal judges announced his appointment.<\/p>\n
Donald Kinsella was sworn in<\/a> Wednesday as the new US attorney for the Northern District of New York. A panel of federal judges appointed him after a court disqualified John Sarcone, who was serving in the role on an acting basis. <\/p>\n Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X late Wednesday that \u201cjudges don\u2019t pick U.S. attorneys,\u201d the president does.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are fired, Donald Kinsella,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Spokespeople for the department didn\u2019t immediately respond to questions about the post or leadership of the Northern District office.<\/p>\n The move is the latest power struggle between the Trump administration and federal courts over leadership of US attorney offices nationwide as DOJ has bypassed traditional steps to install preferred picks as top prosecutors. DOJ also fired<\/a> a court-appointed US attorney in New Jersey last year.<\/p>\n Judges don\u2019t pick U.S. Attorneys, @POTUS<\/a> does. See Article II of our Constitution. You are fired, Donald Kinsella. https:\/\/t.co\/XUYRgaqG2T<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) February 12, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Kinsella served in the US attorney\u2019s office in the district encompassing Albany from 1989 to 2002.<\/p>\n Senior US District Judge Lorna Schofield last month ruled Sarcone wasn\u2019t properly appointed and was barred from further investigating state Attorney General Letitia James. Schofield said Sarcone\u2019s appointment violated the requirement that US attorneys be confirmed by the Senate.<\/p>\n The decision was another blow to President Donald Trump\u2019s push to install loyalists in key prosecutorial jobs. Lindsey Halligan and Alina Habba, Trump\u2019s former personal lawyers, were disqualified last year from their respective posts as US attorneys in Virginia and New Jersey.<\/p>\n At the time, the White House indicated it would continue the fight over Sarcone\u2019s appointment. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Jan. 23. <\/p>\n Sarcone is now listed as \u201cFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney\u201d on the office\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Albany Times Union reported on Kinsella\u2019s appointment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n