Wisconsin Federal Prosecutor Gets New Role After Judges Block Extension

Attorney General Pam Bondi has given Brad Schimel a new position as first assistant U.S. attorney in Wisconsin after federal judges refused to extend his interim term. This move reflects a broader pattern across the country as Senate Democrats delay confirmation votes on Trump's judicial appointees.

MADISON, Wis. — Attorney General Pam Bondi has found a way to keep Brad Schimel in charge of federal prosecution duties in Wisconsin despite judges blocking his continuation as interim U.S. attorney, part of a nationwide trend as confirmation battles slow appointments to key Justice Department positions.

Schimel had been serving as interim U.S. attorney for Wisconsin’s Eastern District since Bondi named him to the position in November for a 120-day period. When that term reached its Tuesday deadline, federal judges in the district announced on March 10 they would not grant an extension, though they had the authority to do so.

However, the Milwaukee U.S. Attorney’s office revealed Wednesday that Bondi has designated Schimel as first assistant U.S. attorney for Milwaukee, enabling him to maintain his oversight responsibilities under the new designation.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of the Eastern District of Wisconsin,” Schimel stated. “I will continue to work tirelessly to make the entire district safer and stronger.”

This situation mirrors what’s happening nationwide, where temporary appointees are managing most of America’s 94 federal judicial districts while Senate Democrats block confirmation proceedings for presidential nominees. Justice Department records show just 30 districts currently have presidentially nominated and Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys in place.

First assistant positions like Schimel’s new role are being used to run prosecutor offices across a dozen states, including California, New Mexico, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Vermont and Washington state, the department’s records indicate.

The Republican Schimel earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and previously served as Waukesha County’s district attorney before winning Wisconsin’s attorney general race in 2014. After losing his reelection bid to Democrat Josh Kaul in 2018, outgoing GOP Governor Scott Walker appointed him to a Waukesha County judgeship.

Last spring, Schimel mounted an unsuccessful state Supreme Court campaign where the court’s ideological makeup was at stake. Even with Trump’s backing and millions in financial support from billionaire Elon Musk, he was defeated by liberal candidate Susan Crawford.

Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin voiced opposition earlier this month to extending Schimel’s interim prosecutor role, describing him as overly partisan and emphasizing that “getting the right person who will uphold the rule of law rather than pledge loyalty to the President, is more important than ever.”

In contrast, Wisconsin’s Republican Senator Ron Johnson criticized the Eastern District judges’ refusal to extend Schimel’s interim appointment as “bizarre” and had pressed Bondi to retain Schimel’s leadership of the Milwaukee office.