{"id":2516072,"date":"2025-12-01T11:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-finds-habba-unlawfully-served-as-nj-prosecutor\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T11:12:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:12:49","slug":"appeals-court-finds-habba-unlawfully-served-as-nj-prosecutor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-finds-habba-unlawfully-served-as-nj-prosecutor\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court finds Habba unlawfully served as NJ prosecutor"},"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\">18<\/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%2Fappeals-court-finds-habba-unlawfully-served-as-nj-prosecutor%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=2516072&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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/second-amendment-activists-prevail-in-federal-court\/\" title=\"Second Amendment Activists Prevail in Federal Court\u00a0\">federal appeals court ruled<\/a> that Alina Habba was unlawfully serving as New JerseyS top federal prosecutor.Habba,a former personal attorney to President Donald Trump,was found never to have been validly appointed. This ruling adds to recent legal issues stemming from Trump&#8217;s strategy to install loyalists in U.S. attorney positions without proper Senate confirmation, especially in Democratic-lead states.Similar appointment challenges recently led to dismissal of criminal cases in Virginia involving former FBI Director james Comey adn New York Attorney General Letitia James. The court panel questioned the legality of the steps taken by Trump and former Attorney General Pam Bondi to reinstate Habba beyond her initial term, with one judge describing it as circumventing the Constitution&#8217;s appointment clause. These decisions highlight growing judicial scrutiny of Trump&#8217;s approach and could lead to further appeals, potentially reaching 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\">Appeals court finds Alina Habba unlawfully served as New Jersey prosecutor<\/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_2415494\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Alina Habba unlawfully served as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\">New Jersey&rsquo;s<\/a> top federal prosecutor, adding fresh legal turmoil to President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> efforts to keep loyalists installed in U.S. attorney positions after two high-profile cases fell apart last week over similar appointment problems.<\/p>\n<p>A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit upheld a lower court&rsquo;s finding that Habba, a Trump ally and former personal attorney to the president, was never validly in office. The ruling comes days after a judge dismissed the criminal cases in Virginia against former FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3889291\/judge-orders-doj-turn-over-grand-jury-materials-james-comey-missteps\/\">James Comey<\/a> and New York Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/letitia-james\/\">Letitia James<\/a>, citing defects in the appointment of Lindsey Halligan, Trump&rsquo;s temporary U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3902101\/emails-dc-shooting-suspect-national-guard\/\">Emails describe DC shooting suspect as withdrawn and manic as US claims he was &#8216;radicalized&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3900403\/trump-starting-to-see-wins-in-transgender-court-battles\/\">Trump starting to see wins in transgender court battles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3901955\/patel-signals-comey-case-far-from-over\/\">Patel signals Comey case is far from over: &#8216;Stay tuned&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3897002\/james-comey-letitia-james-indictments-tossed-lindsey-halligan\/\">JUDGE THROWS OUT JAMES COMEY AND LETITIA JAMES INDICTMENTS AFTER RULING LINDSEY HALLIGAN UNLAWFULLY APPOINTED<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attorney General Pam Bondi swears in Alina Habba as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey on Friday, March 28, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (Pool via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The new setback in New Jersey underscores how Trump&rsquo;s broader strategy to bypass <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\">Senate<\/a> confirmation in blue states is starting to buckle under judicial scrutiny. The administration can now seek review from the full Third Circuit or elevate the case directly to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Third Circuit panel heard arguments on Habba&rsquo;s appointment in October and questioned the legality of the steps Trump and Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> took to reinstall her after her initial 120-day tenure expired. The panel &mdash; comprised of two former President George W. Bush appointees and one former President Barack Obama appointee &mdash; appeared skeptical of Justice Department lawyer Henry Whitaker&rsquo;s claim that Bondi had authority to fill the vacancy after Trump fired the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-extends-tenure-of-la-prosecutor-who-has-taken-on-newsom\/\" title=\"Trump extends tenure of LA prosecutor who has taken on Newsom\">court-appointed successor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Whitaker insisted the administration was relying on &ldquo;overlapping mechanisms&rdquo; provided by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congress<\/a> and that the DOJ had been &ldquo;scrupulously careful&rdquo; to follow them. One judge rejected that narrative, saying the sequence of events that led to Habba&rsquo;s appointment looked like &ldquo;a complete circumvention&rdquo; of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/constitution\/\">Constitution&rsquo;s<\/a> appointments clause.<\/p>\n<p>Washington lawyer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3786112\/trump-foes-longtime-washington-lawyer-abbe-lowell-defense\/\">Abbe Lowell<\/a>, who also defended the New York attorney general in her criminal case, represented the two sets of routine defendants who challenged Habba&rsquo;s authority, arguing she could not prosecute them because she was never lawfully in office.<\/p>\n<p>Habba&rsquo;s case has been the most advanced test of Trump&rsquo;s approach to U.S. attorney appointments, but similar challenges are now overtaking other key prosecutions. In addition to Halligan&rsquo;s collapse in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>, Trump-installed U.S. attorney Bill Essayli in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\">California<\/a> faces his own litigation challenging the validity of his appointment.<\/p>\n<p>Habba had no path to Senate confirmation, as New Jersey&rsquo;s Democratic senators, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cory-booker\/\">Cory Booker<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/andy-kim\/\">Andy Kim<\/a>, refused to return blue slips.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3857517\/alina-habba-us-attorney-post-faces-uphill-battle-appeals-court\/\">HABBA&rsquo;S US ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT FACES UPHILL BATTLE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The blue slip custom, reaffirmed by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-grassley\/\">Chuck Grassley<\/a> (R-IA), effectively gives <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >home-state senators veto power<\/a> over U.S. attorney nominations. Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3790636\/trump-attack-on-blue-slips-looms-over-senate-judiciary-hearings\/\">has intensified his criticism of the practice<\/a>, recently firing former U.S. Attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3816730\/top-virginia-prosecutor-resign-trump-pressure\/\">Erik Siebert<\/a> after Siebert received Democratic support and amid reporting that he was unwilling to bring criminal cases against Comey and James.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>reached out to the DOJ for comment.<\/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>Appeals court rules Alina Habba unlawfully served NJ prosecutor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2516073,"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\/AP25233711642097.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32324,55160,67990,67989],"class_list":["post-2516072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-appeals-court","tag-habba","tag-nj-prosecutor","tag-unlawful-service"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25233711642097.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516072","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=2516072"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2516076,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516072\/revisions\/2516076"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2516073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2516072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2516072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2516072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}