Alina Habba to Remain Acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey Despite Judicial Rejection
Alina Habba, appointed by former President Donald Trump to be the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, will continue her role as the Garden State’s chief prosecutor despite a panel of judges choosing not to confirm her for the position.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday, Habba declared, "Donald J. Trump is the 47th President. Pam Bondi is the Attorney General. And I am now the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey."
She emphasized her resolve, stating, “I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics. This is a fight for justice. And I’m all in.”
Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. Attorney was initially set to conclude on Friday. She was appointed to the temporary position in March and was given a window of 120 days to serve before obtaining permanent approval.
Earlier this week, New Jersey’s 17 federal judges, predominantly appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, opted against extending her interim role. Instead, they designated Desiree Leigh Grace, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, to lead the office.
Grace was dismissed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who criticized the judiciary, asserting that the Department of Justice would "not tolerate rogue judges."
A Department of Justice spokesperson explained to various media outlets on Thursday that Trump had withdrawn Habba’s nomination for the U.S. Attorney position. Subsequently, Habba was appointed as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, replacing Grace, which enabled her to take on the acting role for New Jersey.
The First Assistant Attorney assumes the acting U.S. Attorney position when the role becomes vacant.
The Department of Justice and the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office have yet to respond to inquiries regarding this matter.
Habba, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, faced obstacles in securing a Senate confirmation hearing due to opposition from some Democrats, leaving the extension of her interim status or the current arrangement as her only prospects to maintain her position.
Since her nomination, Habba had received strong endorsements from the National Troopers Coalition, National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Police Defense Foundation.
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