Judge Orders Justice Dept To Reinstate Prosecutor

A federal judge in New York ordered the justice department to restore the position of Maurene Comey, the former prosecutor and daughter of James Comey. The court found that her removal from the agency in July 2025 was illegal.

Judge Jesse Furman issued the ruling on Monday. He determined that the dismissal violated the US Constitution and the right to fair legal process. The decision requires the administration to reinstate Comey and provide back pay from July until December 2025.

Comey accepted a new job in December 2025, which set the end date for the retroactive compensation. Furman noted that she had handled high-profile matters, including cases against Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sean Combs. He added that her supervisors and peers consistently gave her top performance evaluations.

The judge explained that while the attorney general holds the power to fire federal prosecutors, the action must follow specific procedures and reasons. Comey's legal team argued in a September 2025 complaint that her father's status as a former FBI director and her perceived political views drove the decision. Her lawyers stated that the only explanation she received was that the order came from Washington.

A spokesperson for the justice department said the agency disagreed with the ruling and plans to appeal. Court filings identified former Attorney General Pam Bondi as the official who made the dismissal decision. Comey's attorneys described the outcome as a victory for civil servants and the rule of law.

The legal dispute exists alongside other conflicts between the Trump administration and James Comey. The government previously dismissed charges related to alleged lies to Congress after a judge ruled the prosecutor was unlawfully appointed. In earlier proceedings this year, prosecutors charged James Comey with making a threat to harm the president based on an Instagram post containing the numbers 86 and 47.

James Comey has denied any wrongdoing in the threat case. The number 86 is slang for removal, and prosecutors argued the post encouraged violence against the president. The ruling on Maurene Comey's employment stands as a separate legal matter from those criminal proceedings.