Judges vote to oust former Trump lawyer Alina Habba as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor

The Washington Post ^ | June 22, 2025 | Jeremy Roebuck

[E. Pluribus Unum]

New Jersey’s federal judges declined Tuesday to appoint Alina Habba, President Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney in the state, to continue serving in that role, delivering a resounding rebuke to one of his administration’s most polarizing Justice Department appointees.

The state’s U.S. district court judges made the announcement in a brief order that did not offer any explanation for their decision. The order — signed by Renee Marie Bumb, the chief federal judge for the District of New Jersey — appointed Desiree Leigh Grace, a career prosecutor who Habba had named as her first assistant U.S. attorney as her replacement in the role.

The move, for now, means an end to Habba’s contentious tenure as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, which has seen her, in three months, open investigations into the state’s Democratic governor and attorney general as well as file felony assault charges against a Democratic member of Congress.

Trump could exercise several maneuvers to try to keep Habba in place or seek to appoint someone else to replace the judges’ pick.

The judges’ decision to reject the president’s appointee is an exceedingly rare move illustrating a growing tension between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary.

A spokesperson for Habba did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday nor did spokespersons for the Justice Department or the White House. Administration officials have taken to social media in recent days to make clear that Habba still had the president’s support. Habba “has brought steady leadership and sound judgment as Interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a post to X on Monday. “She has the full confidence of @POTUS and DOJ.”

He dismissed opposition to her nomination as “political noise.”

Trump appointed Habba — who had previously worked as his personal...

[Labyrinthos]

Good catch — but the appointment has not expired yet.

[Valpal1]

It’s interesting (to me) that these judges jumped the gun. Why vote a week early?

Frankly, it makes them look like the biased activists they are. Lefties just can’t stop themselves being arrogant.

I hope and pray that we take the senate next year and started removing judges for this kind of stuff.

[Magnum44]

Someone posted Dem Senators wouldnt give blue slips, so its a Senate rules thing.

[TexasGator]

“Well then maybe she can replace Bondi!”

A Winner!

Stupid post of the week!

[abbastanza]

You know.

[napscoordinator]

Her 180 days are up. Trump needs to nominate her so the senate can appropriately appoint her.

[Redmen4ever]

Her 120 (not 180) days are up ... Trump named her Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey on March 24th; but only nominated her on June 30th. The Senate is always gummed up in the year of a new President; and especially Trump 2017, Biden 2021 and this year.

[Republican Wildcat]

The blue-slip rule is still in effect for that. So Booker and whoever replaced Menendez are in charge of that.

[minnesota_bound]

Trump I would think can reappoint her. The senate can confirm her that is hen they get back from a long long vacation.