The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the disqualification of Alina Habba, President Trump’s former personal lawyer, from serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.
The ruling backed a lower court’s decision which found Habba’s appointment to be unlawful, citing “novel series of legal and personnel moves” following her interim term expiration.
Driving the news: Habba had been appointed without Senate confirmation and attempted to keep her position through administration maneuvers.
What we’re watching: Attorneys challenging Habba’s role stated they would keep contesting what they see as presidential overreach in appointing U.S. Attorneys.
Zoom out: Similar legal challenges have targeted other Trump administration prosecutor appointments across the country, including recently dismissed cases and other disqualifications.
Go deeper: Habba was personally present at the October 20 oral arguments and later stated she was fighting for candidates denied Senate hearings.
- The Justice Department and the Trump administration advocated for keeping Habba in place, but the courts found her tenure invalid given federal law requirements.
- The ruling could affect actions and cases taken by Habba during her time in the role after July, pending further legal review.
