Federal Judges Decline to Extend Appointment for Interim US Attorney in Milwaukee

The Eastern District of Wisconsin's judges will wait for a permanent appointee to be nominated and confirmed.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Federal judges in Milwaukee announced that they have decided not to extend interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel's appointment beyond next week. Schimel, a Republican, was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi in November to a 120-day term as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The judges said they will wait for President Donald Trump and the U.S. Senate to nominate and confirm a full-time U.S. attorney.

Why it matters

The decision not to extend Schimel's appointment as interim U.S. attorney reflects the ongoing political tensions and partisan dynamics surrounding federal prosecutor appointments. Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, has been viewed as a partisan actor by Democrats like Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who opposed allowing him to continue serving in the role.

The details

Under federal law, a federal district's judges can extend an interim U.S. attorney's appointment until a permanent appointee takes the position. But the Eastern District's judges said a majority of them have declined to extend Schimel's term, citing the need to wait for a permanent appointment. Schimel previously served as the Waukesha County district attorney and was elected as Wisconsin's attorney general in 2014 before losing his re-election bid in 2018.

  • Schimel's 120-day term as interim U.S. attorney is set to expire on March 17, 2026.
  • Schimel was appointed to the interim role by Attorney General Pam Bondi in November 2025.

The players

Brad Schimel

A Republican who served as the Waukesha County district attorney and was elected as Wisconsin's attorney general in 2014 before losing his re-election bid in 2018. He was appointed as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in November 2025.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who appointed Schimel as interim U.S. attorney in November 2025.

Donald Trump

The President who will need to nominate and the U.S. Senate will need to confirm a permanent U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Tammy Baldwin

A Democratic U.S. Senator who opposed allowing Schimel to continue serving as interim U.S. attorney, calling him a partisan actor.

Hannah Dugan

A Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge who was charged with helping an immigrant evade federal immigration officers, a case that inflamed tensions over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

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What they’re saying

“Getting the right person who will uphold the rule of law rather than pledge loyalty to the President, is more important than ever.”

— Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Senator (Associated Press)

What’s next

The judges' decision means the Eastern District of Wisconsin will be without a permanent U.S. attorney until President Trump nominates and the Senate confirms a new appointee.

The takeaway

This decision reflects the ongoing political tensions surrounding federal prosecutor appointments, with Democrats like Sen. Tammy Baldwin opposing the continuation of a Republican-appointed interim U.S. attorney. The case highlights the importance of having non-partisan, rule-of-law-focused leadership in the U.S. Attorney's Office.