{"id":2501225,"date":"2025-10-20T18:54:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T22:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/habbas-us-attorney-appointment-faces-uphill-battle\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T18:57:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T22:57:01","slug":"habbas-us-attorney-appointment-faces-uphill-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/habbas-us-attorney-appointment-faces-uphill-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Habba\u2019s US attorney appointment faces uphill battle"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhabbas-us-attorney-appointment-faces-uphill-battle%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2501225&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal appeals court panel questioned teh Trump administration&#8217;s unconventional use of appointment powers to keep Alina Habba serving as U.S. attorney for New Jersey beyond her four-month interim term without Senate confirmation. The case,heard by the Third Circuit in Philadelphia,challenges the legality of extending Habba&#8217;s tenure,with judges expressing concern that the administration&#8217;s actions circumvent the Constitution&#8217;s appointments clause and congressional confirmation process. Habba, known for being a former personal attorney to Donald Trump, has been ruled by a lower court to be serving unlawfully since July 1, though that ruling is currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-new-york-civil-case-is-a-brazen-declaration-of-lawfare\/\" title=\"...&#039;s NY civil ... is a bold act of lawfare.\">stayed pending appeal<\/a>. The uncertainty about her authority has disrupted federal court proceedings in New Jersey. Defense attorneys argue that the administration&#8217;s approach undermines Congress&#8217;s role in confirming top prosecutors. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for presidential appointment powers and may influence othre high-profile prosecutions, including cases involving former FBI Director james Comey. A final ruling could eventually reach the Supreme Court.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Habba&rsquo;s US attorney appointment faces uphill battle after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawyer-for-wnba-star-brittney-griner-fears-she-may-never-be-released-from-russian-prison\/\" title=\"Lawyer for WNBA Star Brittney Griner Fears She May Never Be Released From Russian Prison\">appeals court hearing<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2211994\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A panel of federal appeals court judges pressed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration<\/a> on Monday over its creative use of appointment powers to keep Alina Habba in place as U.S. attorney for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Jersey<\/a>, a test case that could reshape how presidents install top prosecutors without Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>During more than an hour of arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, the three-judge panel zeroed in on how the administration extended Habba&rsquo;s tenure after her four-month interim term expired.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3857471\/jeanine-pirro-identifies-two-suspects-assault-doge-staffer-big-balls\/\">Pirro identifies two suspects charged in assault of DOGE employee<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3856914\/european-leaders-frustrated-trump-putin-undermine-zelensky-progress\/\">European leaders back to drawing board after Trump-Putin call undermines Zelensky&#8217;s progress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3857538\/kathy-griffin-trump-election-doubt-decapitation-post\/\">Queen of kooks: Kathy Griffin confirms her TDS and doubts Trump&#8217;s election<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alina Habba, a former defense lawyer for President Donald Trump, shown March 24, 2025, outside the White House in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The panel included Judge L. Felipe Restrepo, appointed by former President Barack Obama, and Judges D. Michael Fisher and D. Brooks Smith, both appointed by former President George W. Bush. Smith called the maneuver &ldquo;a complete circumvention, it seems, of the appointments clause,&rdquo; while Fisher said the relevant statute suggested Congress intended such interim posts to be filled by career officials, not political allies.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration&rsquo;s attorney, Henry Whitaker, counselor to Attorney General Pam Bondi, defended the process, arguing that &ldquo;we colored inside the lines here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Smith pushed back, emphasizing that the case &ldquo;is about the statute, the separation of powers, and process,&rdquo; not about Habba personally.<\/p>\n<p>In August, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-supreme-court-to-decide-on-hearing-suit-declaring-all-male-draft-discriminatory\/\" title=\"Report: Supreme ... to Decide on Hearing Suit Declaring All-Male Draft Discriminatory\">federal district court judge<\/a> in Pennsylvania ruled Habba, a former personal attorney to President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a>, has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3777750\/judges-ruling-against-alina-habba-tees-up-constitutional-clash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">serving unlawfully since July 1.<\/a> That decision was stayed pending appeal, but it has already caused significant disruption in New Jersey&rsquo;s federal courts, where more than a dozen judges have delayed proceedings amid uncertainty over her authority to prosecute cases.<\/p>\n<p>Defense attorney Abbe Lowell, who represents one of several criminal defendants challenging Habba&rsquo;s appointment, argued that the administration&rsquo;s strategy undercuts Congress&rsquo;s confirmation power.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, Lowell represents two prominent figures currently under indictment in other jurisdictions by the Department of Justice, including former Trump national security adviser John Bolton and Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James. While neither of those defendants are challenging the constitutionality of the placement of prosecutors handling their cases, Lowell&rsquo;s involvement continues a streak of recent work for Democrats and opponents of Trump, following his service to former President Joe Biden&rsquo;s son, Hunter Biden, in his pair of criminal cases.<\/p>\n<p>Habba attended the hearing and later posted online that she has &ldquo;not had so much as a single conversation&rdquo; with New Jersey&rsquo;s Democratic senators about her stalled confirmation. Both senators have said Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >appointment tactics undermine judicial independence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3777750\/judges-ruling-against-alina-habba-tees-up-constitutional-clash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JUDGE&rsquo;S RULING AGAINST ALINA HABBA TEES UP CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Any ruling from the appellate court will likely be appealed, potentially setting up an emergency petition to the Supreme Court. It was not immediately clear when the appeals court would issue its decision.<\/p>\n<p>The outcome could also affect the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, whose lawyers have cited Habba&rsquo;s removal ruling in their bid to disqualify prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, another Trump-appointed U.S. attorney facing similar legal challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Habba&#8217;s US attorney appointment faces tough court challenge<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2501226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25076661204977.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[13993,55160,33577],"class_list":["post-2501225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-appointment","tag-habba","tag-us-attorney"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25076661204977.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2501225"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501229,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501225\/revisions\/2501229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}