A U.S. appeals court has upheld a lower court's decision disqualifying Alina Habba, President Trump's former personal lawyer, from serving as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor, deeming her appointment unlawful due to the administration's maneuvers to keep her in the role without Senate confirmation.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia affirmed a lower-court judge’s ruling, effectively disqualifying Alina Habba, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, from serving as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor. The court's 32-page opinion criticized the administration's efforts to elevate Habba to Acting U.S. Attorney, stating that New Jersey citizens and U.S. Attorney’s Office employees deserved clarity and stability. This ruling comes after judges questioned the government’s moves to keep Habba in place after her interim appointment expired and without Senate confirmation. Habba had been Trump's personal lawyer and briefly a White House adviser before her appointment as a federal prosecutor, where she controversially expressed a hope to 'turn New Jersey red.' The decision has 'real implications' for prosecutions and the office's ability to function, according to legal experts. This case is part of a broader pattern of challenged Trump administration prosecutor appointments, with similar disqualifications occurring in other districts, including the Eastern District of Virginia and Nevada, leading to the dismissal of some criminal cases.
