TOP STORY: Trump-Appointed U.S. Attorney Replaced by Judges in Rare Move
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a rare and politically charged decision, a panel of federal judges has voted to replace Alina Habba, former President Donald Trump’s controversial pick for New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, just as her interim term was set to expire.
Habba, best known as Trump’s personal attorney in multiple high-profile legal battles, had no prior experience as a criminal prosecutor. Her appointment in March immediately drew sharp criticism from New Jersey Democrats, who accused her of launching politically motivated investigations and lacking the qualifications for the role.
Despite being formally nominated by Trump, Habba never received Senate confirmation—her path blocked by the state’s two Democratic senators. With her 120-day interim term nearing its end, a group of 17 district court judges opted not to extend her leadership. Instead, they unanimously selected her deputy, longtime career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace, to take over the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Experts say it is highly unusual for judges to overrule a president’s interim appointment in this manner. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias noted the move as “exceptional,” adding that Grace “is well respected in the New Jersey legal world” and her elevation is “a sensible and stabilizing choice.”
Habba’s short tenure was marked by friction with Democratic officials. She brought assault charges against a Democratic congressman and launched investigations into New Jersey’s Democratic governor and attorney general—actions critics described as partisan and retaliatory.
Her ouster prompted sharp criticism from Trump allies. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Habba on Monday, calling the judges’ vote “political noise” and claiming she had the full backing of the Justice Department. After the ruling, Blanche took to X (formerly Twitter), accusing the judiciary of advancing “a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law.”
“When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system,” Blanche wrote.
Confusion remains about the official end date of Habba’s term. She was appointed on March 24 “effective immediately,” which would place the 120-day expiration on Tuesday. However, she was not formally sworn in until March 28 during an Oval Office ceremony.
This is the second such instance in as many weeks. In New York, judges also rejected the continuation of an interim Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, opting instead to select a career prosecutor. That former appointee, John Sarcone III, has since been reassigned as a special attorney to the attorney general.
While Trump supporters decried the New Jersey judges’ decision as partisan overreach, legal analysts say it underscores a broader push by the judiciary to uphold professional standards and restore institutional credibility in a deeply polarized political climate.
