Federal Judges Oust Alina Habba as Interim New Jersey Prosecutor, Citing Opposition and Controversy
Federal Judges Oust Alina Habba as Interim New Jersey Prosecutor, Citing Opposition and Controversy
A panel of U.S. judges has voted to replace Alina Habba, President Donald Trump’s controversial selection for New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, just as her interim term was set to expire. The unusual decision sees career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace, Habba’s deputy, stepping into the role.
Habba, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, was sworn in for a three-month interim period in March. Her 120-day term was set to conclude this week. While Trump had officially nominated her for the permanent post, her path to confirmation was blocked by Democrats in the Senate, who cited her lack of prosecutorial experience in criminal law.
The move by the judges is rare, as it’s uncommon for them to prevent an interim prosecutor from continuing in the role. However, Habba’s tenure has been marked by clashes with Democrats and accusations of pursuing politically motivated cases, including assault charges against a Democratic congressman and investigations into New Jersey’s Democratic governor and attorney general.
Following the ruling by the 17 judges, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who had previously defended Habba, accused the judiciary of pushing a “left-wing agenda.” Both of New Jersey’s Democratic senators had vocally opposed Habba’s nomination, arguing she did not meet the standards for the office and pursued “frivolous” prosecutions.
This situation mirrors a recent event in New York, where judges also blocked an interim U.S. attorney from staying on. Experts note that while unusual, choosing the first assistant, like Desiree Grace, is generally considered a sensible and well-respected choice within the legal community.
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