Appeals court disqualifies ex-Trump lawyer Alina Habba as New Jersey prosecutor

BBC News - WorldEN 3 min read 100% complete December 1, 2025 at 08:15 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A US appeals court disqualified Alina Habba, former lawyer for Donald Trump, from serving as a top federal prosecutor for New Jersey, ruling her appointment violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Habba was installed in an acting role after a district court rejected her nomination, bypassing Senate confirmation. The court found this tactic unlawful, potentially affecting numerous criminal cases in the state. The ruling came after three men facing criminal charges challenged Habba's authority. Lawyers challenging Habba's appointment stated this marks the first time an appeals court has ruled against President Trump's appointment process for US Attorneys. The Justice Department may now need to find a new prosecutor to supervise federal criminal cases in New Jersey.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×250% New Jersey ×360% Donald Trump ×570% Alina Habba ×680%

Keywords

alina habba 100% donald trump 90% us attorney 80% appeals court 70% new jersey 70% federal vacancies reform act 60% disqualification 60% unlawful appointment 50% legal challenge 40% criminal cases 40%