# Federal Court Rules DOJ Firing Unlawful

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the 2025 immediate firing of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey violated federal civil-service law and separation-of-powers principles, and ordered five months of back pay. The decision could affect related litigation over federal employee removals, but the signal identifies no procurement, contract, or solicitation. For procurement professionals, its relevance is limited to potential implications for agency personnel procedures and contractors that support federal workforce operations.

- Agencies and contractors supporting federal personnel operations may need to account for the ruling’s possible effect on removal procedures and related legal matters.
- The decision is not a contracting opportunity and provides no contract value, solicitation, deadline, or vendor information.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
- U.S. District Court

### Key Quotes
> Indeed, to accept defendants’ argument would be to unsettle the very equilibrium established by this nation’s constitutional system.
> — Jesse Furman, U.S. District Judge

### Sources
- [Judge: ‘Article II’ firings violate separation of powers, civil service law - Government Executive](https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/10/judge-article-ii-firings-violate-separation-powers-civil-service-law/416830) - GovExec.com