Judge says Alina Habba, Trump's top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, not lawfully appointed

A national justice connected Thursday disqualified acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba from participating successful immoderate ongoing transgression cases lodged by her office, aft the lawfulness of her assignment by the Trump medication was challenged successful 2 abstracted cases.

Judge Matthew Brann said that Habba's assignment arsenic the interim apical national authoritative successful New Jersey by the administration, "through a caller bid of ineligible and unit moves," was not legally valid.

"The Court concludes that Ms. Habba has exercised the functions and duties of the bureau of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey without lawful authorization since July 1, 2025," wrote Brann successful his ruling.

"Her actions since that constituent whitethorn beryllium declared void," wrote the judge, who sits successful U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Brann stayed his decision, which volition let the Trump medication to entreaty it earlier it takes effect.

Habba is simply a erstwhile idiosyncratic lawyer for President Donald Trump.

Brann was specially tapped to grip the challenges to Habba holding her station due to the fact that of a anterior determination by the national judges successful New Jersey rejecting her for that job.

Brann said his uncovering did not necessitate the dismissal of a transgression indictment lodged by Habba's bureau against Cesar Humberto Pina, which Habba had approved.

But "because she is not presently qualified to workout the functions and duties of the bureau successful an acting capacity, she indispensable beryllium disqualified from participating successful immoderate ongoing cases, including Mr. Pina's and those of Defendants Julien Giraud Jr. and Julien Giraud III," Brann wrote.