A judge barred the Trump-appointed US attorney in Nevada from overseeing several criminal cases Tuesday, ruling that she is `not validly serving` as the state`s top federal prosecutor. US District Judge David G. Campbell disqualified Sigal Chattah from supervising four criminal prosecutions, siding with defense lawyers who argued that her authority expired in July and she is serving unlawfully.

Campbell ordered government attorneys on the cases to tell the court within seven days that Chattah is not directing their work. He did not dismiss the indictments, however. It was the second setback in recent weeks for the administration`s effort to extend handpicked acting US attorneys beyond the 120-day limit set by federal law, something it also sought to do for California and New Jersey.