Judge Rules Ex-Trump Lawyer Illegally Serves as New Jersey US Attorney

A federal judge ruled that Alina Habba, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, has been unlawfully serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey since July, following the expiration of her 120-day interim appointment. The court found that the Trump administration used unconventional legal maneuvers to keep Habba in the role without Senate confirmation, including appointing her first assistant U.S. attorney to enable her to resume duties in an acting capacity. Judge Matthew Brann determined that Habba is not legally qualified to perform the duties of the office and disqualified her from participating in ongoing cases, although his order is on hold pending appeal. The ruling highlights potential limits on presidential power in appointing top federal prosecutors and has implications for other similarly situated acting U.S. attorneys. Habba's tenure included controversial prosecutorial actions and political statements, and the Justice Department plans to appeal the decision. The case arose after New Jersey defendants challenged her authority to prosecute them, arguing her appointment was invalid.