Alina Habba 'unlawfully' working as US attorney in New Jersey, judge rules [View all]

Source: Politico

A federal judge rejected President Donald Trump’s use of a loophole to keep Alina Habba in place as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor.

In a 77-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann said Thursday that Habba “is not lawfully holding the office of United States Attorney” and has been in the position without legal authority since July 1.

As a result, Habba, who had previously worked as Trump’s personal attorney, cannot participate in prosecutions by the office “as the ‘acting U.S. Attorney’” and seemingly cannot run the office the president maneuvered to keep her in charge of after her interim 120-day appointment expired. The Trump administration employed a series of maneuvers to attempt to retain Habba’s control of the office after district judges ousted her at the end of her term.

“Faced with the question of whether Ms. Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not,” he wrote.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/21/alina-habba-new-jersey-us-attorney-ruling-00518559