David Campbell

A federal appeals court panel upheld a ruling that disqualified Sigal Chattah as the top federal prosecutor in Nevada, finding that the Justice Department's appointment and delegation mechanisms were unlawful. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act provision used by DOJ, a first assistant could not automatically become acting U.S. attorney. This disqualification means Chattah cannot supervise prosecutions in three criminal cases.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Christopher Houck claims he is owed three years of unpaid overtime, arguing his role as a law enforcement officer qualifies under the Fair Labor Standards Act’s First Responder Regulation. The county contends his administrative duties, such as managing personnel and policy development, exempt him from overtime, but Houck’s attorney asserts his primary responsibility remains responding to emergencies.