The Justice Department fired James W. Hundley, a veteran Virginia lawyer, just hours after he was unanimously appointed by judges to serve as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the dismissal on X, stating, “EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!” The swift action underscores a continuing dispute between the federal bench and the executive branch over the appointment of U.S. Attorneys, particularly within the Eastern District of Virginia.
Hundley’s appointment by the judges of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia followed the resignation of Lindsey Halligan last month. Halligan had been under pressure from federal judges, according to reports. She had initiated prosecutions against political opponents of former President Donald Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, which ultimately failed.
The court’s action to appoint Hundley, a partner at Briglia Hundley in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and a litigator with 30 years of experience—including arguing a case before the Supreme Court in 2000—was immediately rebuked by Blanche. The appointment was made pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546(d), and Chief United States District Judge M. Hannah Lauck administered the Oath of Office to Hundley in Richmond, Virginia, on February 20th.
This is not the first instance of the Trump administration overturning appointments made by federal judges. The White House has previously fired court-appointed prosecutors, including one in the Northern District of New York last week. The Justice Department had instructed prosecutors in the Eastern Virginia office to include Blanche’s name in court filings following Halligan’s resignation, signaling a move to assert greater control over the office.
Hundley did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Justice Department has not yet named a replacement for Halligan, and the status of ongoing investigations within the Eastern District of Virginia remains unclear.
