Ex-Trump Lawyer Habba Removed as New Jersey’s acting U.S. Attorney
TRENTON, N.J. – A federal judge on Friday disqualified former President Donald Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, from serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, effectively ending her controversial tenure leading the state’s federal law enforcement.The ruling stems from a legal challenge arguing Habba’s repeated appointments circumvented established federal procedures for selecting the state’s top prosecutor.
The decision throws the future of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey into uncertainty, impacting ongoing federal investigations and prosecutions within the state. Habba’s appointment, repeatedly extended by Attorney General Pam Bondi despite objections from New Jersey’s Democratic senators and a prior attempt by federal judges to install a career prosecutor, ignited a dispute over presidential authority versus established legal protocols. The case underscores the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the judiciary regarding appointments to key law enforcement positions.
Habba’s initial temporary appointment faced scrutiny in July as it neared expiration, with Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim signaling they would not support a permanent nomination. Following this, federal judges in New Jersey attempted to replace Habba with a career prosecutor already serving as her second-in-command. However, Bondi later dismissed the prosecutor and re-appointed Habba in an acting capacity, prompting the Justice Department to assert Trump’s authority to select his preferred candidate.
Judge John M.Brann‘s ruling steadfast that the president’s appointments remain subject to the limitations and power-sharing rules outlined in federal law. The Justice Department had argued the judges acted prematurely, but Brann’s decision affirms the judiciary’s role in overseeing the appointment process.
The legal challenge highlighted concerns that Habba’s political affiliations and lack of traditional prosecutorial experience were inappropriate for the position. Her primary background is in civil litigation, representing Trump in various legal battles.The ruling effectively reinstates the process for a permanent U.S. Attorney appointment, perhaps leading to a nominee vetted and confirmed through the Senate.