NEW YORK — A federal judge has ordered attorney Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to use the title of United States attorney after a court ruled in November that her appointment as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York was invalid.
In a written order, the judge directed Halligan to justify her continued use of the title in public, professional, or legal settings despite the earlier ruling, which found that her designation did not comply with federal appointment requirements.
The November decision concluded that the process used to install Halligan as interim U.S. attorney failed to meet standards set under federal law.
The new order requires Halligan to submit a formal response detailing how and where she has used the U.S. attorney title since the ruling.
Court records show that the invalidation of Halligan’s appointment raised questions about the scope of her authority while she acted in the interim role. The judge’s latest order seeks to ensure compliance with the prior ruling and to clarify whether Halligan’s continued use of the title aligns with that decision.
The Eastern District of New York covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island. The U.S. attorney for the district oversees federal criminal prosecutions and represents the United States in civil matters.
The November ruling found that those legal requirements were not satisfied in Halligan’s case, citing deficiencies in the appointment process.
The judge has not imposed sanctions or penalties at this stage. The court described the order as a request for explanation and clarification. The judge will review Halligan’s response before determining whether further action is warranted.
The matter remains pending, and the court has not set a date for additional proceedings.
