Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba’s term as the top prosecutor in the District of New Jersey has come to an end following a decision by the district court judges. After her 120-day interim appointment expired, the panel convened in closed-door sessions to evaluate whether to extend her tenure. The outcome was clear: they opted to replace her, with Desiree Grace, a veteran attorney and her chief assistant, stepping into the role. Grace will officially assume the position starting Tuesday, as confirmed by the court’s recent order.
At the heart of the controversy is Habba’s tenure as a former legal counsel to President Donald Trump. Appointed to the U.S. Attorney position following her role as Trump’s personal lawyer, she sparked debate almost immediately upon taking office. One of the most contentious incidents involved her decision to drop charges against Newark’s Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, who had been arrested for alleged trespassing at an immigration detention facility. However, the charges were swiftly dismissed, leading to a scathing rebuke from a judge who accused Habba of prioritizing public opinion over legal procedure. This move has since led to Baraka filing a defamation lawsuit against Habba.
Habba’s nomination for a full, four-year term has been complicated by the opposition from New Jersey’s two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, who have submitted blue slips disapproving of her appointment. Despite this, Trump has attempted to keep Habba in the role, nominating her earlier this month for the permanent position. Habba has also garnered backing from various law enforcement groups, who have praised her for her hardline approach to street crime. Yet, she has faced significant criticism for lacking prior prosecutorial experience and for what some perceive as political maneuvering in the role, including her public comments on a right-wing podcast expressing hope for turning New Jersey ‘red.’
The White House sought to justify the judges’ decision by noting that Trump had found a way to temporarily reinstate a similar situation in the Northern District of New York. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has publicly defended Habba, suggesting that the judges were attempting to remove her from her post early. In a statement, Blanche asserted that the judges’ actions were part of a ‘left-wing agenda,’ undermining public confidence in the justice system. He emphasized that Alina was Trump’s choice to lead, and that no partisan bench should override this selection.
The decision has sparked a broader discussion about the independence of judicial appointments and the potential for political influence in high-profile legal cases. As the situation in New Jersey continues to unfold, the implications for both the legal system and the political landscape remain to be seen.