Trump’s former lawyer Alina Habba serving unlawfully as US attorney, says appeals court

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Associated PressDecember 1, 2025 at 04:18 PM

AI Summary

medium article 4 min

A US appeals court has ruled that Alina Habba, Donald Trump's former lawyer, is unlawfully serving as acting US attorney for New Jersey. The court upheld a lower court's disqualification order, questioning the Trump administration's maneuvers to keep Habba in the position without Senate confirmation after her interim appointment expired. The ruling stated that the administration's efforts to elevate Habba faced legal and political barriers, impacting the stability of the US attorney's office. This challenge to Habba's appointment is one of several legal challenges to Trump administration prosecutor appointments, including a similar case in Virginia where a judge dismissed criminal cases due to an unlawfully appointed interim US attorney. The Justice Department has indicated it intends to appeal these rulings.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

New Jersey ×230% United States ×340% Donald Trump ×250% Alina Habba ×480%

Keywords

alina habba 100% us attorney 90% appointment 80% appeals court 70% disqualification 70% trump administration 60% legal challenge 50% new jersey 50% senate confirmation 40%