• A federal judge has ordered Lindsey Halligan to stop using her title as U.S. attorney.
• Judge David Novak emphasized her continued use of the title violates a binding court order.
• The Justice Department defended Halligan's usage, leading to a clash with the court's authority.
• Halligan's appointment had previously been ruled improper under federal law.
• The court is now seeking candidates to fill the position left vacant by Halligan's unlawful appointment.

A federal judge has ordered Lindsey Halligan, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, to stop referring to herself as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. U.S. District Judge David Novak determined that Halligan's continued use of the title "ignores a binding court order" and may result in disciplinary action against her if she persists, as per his ruling issued on January 20. Judge Novak previously mandated Halligan to explain her use of the title after a ruling by another judge had declared her appointment unlawful and in violation of the Constitution's Appointments Clause, according to CBS News and ABC News.

The judge highlighted Halligan's claim to the title as a "charade" and warned that the Justice Department's continued defense of her position demonstrates a serious misunderstanding of the court's legal authority. "Ms. Halligan has no legal basis to represent to this Court that she holds the position," Novak stated, echoing concerns previously expressed about the implications of allowing someone to disregard valid court orders, as noted in Reuters and ABC News.