{"id":2553198,"date":"2026-01-26T20:13:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-could-ask-supreme-court-to-weigh-dispute-over-trumps-us-attorneys-3\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T20:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:16:19","slug":"doj-could-ask-supreme-court-to-weigh-dispute-over-trumps-us-attorneys-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-could-ask-supreme-court-to-weigh-dispute-over-trumps-us-attorneys-3\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ could ask Supreme Court to weigh dispute over Trump&#8217;s US attorneys"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/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%2Fdoj-could-ask-supreme-court-to-weigh-dispute-over-trumps-us-attorneys-3%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=2553198&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>The Justice Department is expected to ask the Supreme Court to weigh in on a dispute over President Trump\u2019s effort to keep his handpicked U.S. attorneys in office after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-asks-supreme-court-to-unblock-trump-passport-gender-rule\/\" title=\"... asks ... to unblock Trump passport gender rule\">federal appeals court declined<\/a> to rehear a ruling that blocked Alina Habba\u2019s continued service as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals left intact a panel decision that Habba\u2019s appointment became unlawful after her 120\u2011day interim term expired; Habba resigned but has said she woudl return if a higher court rules for her.<\/p>\n<p>The appeals panel found the administration\u2019s maneuvers \u2014 including judges appointing a first assistant, Attorney General Pam Bondi firing that appointee, Trump withdrawing Habba\u2019s nomination and redesignating her as acting U.S. attorney \u2014 violated the plain text of the statute governing U.S. attorney appointments. The DOJ has called the matter one of \u201cexceptional importance\u201d and is likely to seek emergency review by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p>The case is part of a broader clash over Trump\u2019s control of political appointees: several other Trump\u2011aligned U.S. attorneys have been disqualified in multiple districts, leading to resignations, reassignment of duties and even dismissed prosecutions. The dispute also intersects with a parallel Senate fight over the \u201cblue slip\u201d tradition that can stall nominees. If the Supreme Court takes the case, it would present a high\u2011stakes test of presidential authority over federal prosecutors amid other major separation\u2011of\u2011powers cases before the justices.  <\/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\">DOJ could soon ask Supreme Court to consider legal battle over Trump-appointed US attorneys<\/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_2480005\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> may soon ask the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> to step into President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elite-harvard-becomes-trump-foil-in-widening-legal-fight-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"\u2018Elite\u2019 Harvard becomes Trump foil in widening ... fight - Washington Examiner\">widening legal fight<\/a> over his ability to keep the U.S. attorneys he&rsquo;s selected in office, after a federal appeals court declined to reconsider a ruling that blocked one of his most prominent loyalists.<\/p>\n<p>In an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.ca3.125818\/gov.uscourts.ca3.125818.86.0_1.pdf\">order<\/a> on Monday, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the DOJ&rsquo;s request to rehear a case involving <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3902396\/appeals-court-alina-habba-unlawfully-served-new-jersey-prosecutor\/\">Alina Habba<\/a>, Trump&rsquo;s former personal attorney, who was appointed as U.S. attorney for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\">New Jersey<\/a>. The decision leaves intact a three-judge panel&rsquo;s ruling that Habba&rsquo;s appointment became unlawful once her 120-day 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\/justice\/4433835\/obama-appointed-judge-blocks-trump-end-legal-status-thousands-migrants\/\">Obama-appointed judge again blocks Trump from ending legal status for thousands of migrants<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4434172\/agents-involved-alex-pretti-killing-body-cameras\/\">Agents involved in Pretti killing were wearing body cameras: DHS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4433724\/doj-different-tone-dhs-death-alex-pretti-ice-minneapolis\/\">DOJ strikes sharply different tone than DHS on death of Alex Pretti<\/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, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s pick to be the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, speaks with reporters outside the White House, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The denial effectively clears the way for the administration to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court, potentially placing the dispute on the justices&rsquo; fast-moving emergency docket and setting up a high-stakes test of presidential power over federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>The appeals court said the judges who ruled against Habba did not request a rehearing, and that a majority of the full court voted against taking the case en banc. Three of the court&rsquo;s 11 active judges would have granted rehearing, and one dissent is expected to be published at a later date. Judge Emil Bove, another Trump appointee and former Trump attorney, did not participate in the vote.<\/p>\n<p>The panel concluded that the administration&rsquo;s effort to keep Habba in office after her interim term expired violated the plain text of the statute governing U.S. attorney appointments, despite what it described as a &ldquo;novel series of legal and personnel moves&rdquo; to preserve her authority.<\/p>\n<p>Habba resigned last month following the ruling, but wrote <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.ca3.125818\/gov.uscourts.ca3.125818.85.0.pdf\">in a sworn declaration on Jan. 14<\/a> that she intends to return if a higher court rules in her favor.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ has framed the dispute as one of &ldquo;exceptional importance,&rdquo; arguing that the panel imposed &ldquo;atextual limits&rdquo; on the executive branch&rsquo;s authority to manage acting U.S. attorneys, a claim now likely headed for Supreme Court review.<\/p>\n<p>The conflict began after New Jersey federal judges declined to extend Habba&rsquo;s interim term and instead exercised a rarely used power to appoint her first assistant as U.S. attorney. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired the judges&rsquo; appointee, and Trump withdrew Habba&rsquo;s formal nomination, redesignating her as acting U.S. attorney to keep her in charge.<\/p>\n<p>Writing for the unanimous panel, Judge D. Michael Fisher, a George W. Bush appointee, acknowledged the administration&rsquo;s frustration with political and legal barriers to installing its nominees but said the statute left no room for maneuvering.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is a time before &lsquo;the President submits a nomination,&rsquo; and there is a time after &lsquo;the President submits a nomination,&rsquo;&rdquo; Fisher wrote. &ldquo;Just because the President later may withdraw the nomination does not erase the fact that he submitted it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Habba&rsquo;s case has become the leading edge of a broader confrontation between the Trump administration and the judiciary. Four other Trump-aligned U.S. attorneys have since been disqualified in California&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3867363\/judge-disqualifies-trump-appointed-us-attorney-for-unlawfully-serving-in-role\/\">Los Angeles-based<\/a> district, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3761409\/trump-sidesteps-confirmation-process-federal-prosecutors\/\">Nevada<\/a>, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4411437\/judge-disqualifies-new-york-us-attorney\/\">Northern District of New York<\/a>, and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3897002\/james-comey-letitia-james-indictments-tossed-lindsey-halligan\/\">Eastern District of Virginia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The fallout has already reshaped federal prosecutions. After Habba stepped aside and her duties were split among three prosecutors, Delaware&rsquo;s GOP chair-turned-U.S. attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3916840\/trump-delaware-us-attorney-julianne-murray-resigns\/\">resigned<\/a>, citing the 3rd Circuit&rsquo;s ruling. In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>, Lindsey Halligan resigned last week after a judge barred her from representing herself as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia absent Senate confirmation or court appointment.<\/p>\n<p>Halligan&rsquo;s disqualification led to the dismissal of criminal cases against former FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comey\/\">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> (D), two of Trump&rsquo;s most prominent political adversaries.<\/p>\n<p>The legal battles have also unfolded alongside a parallel fight on Capitol Hill, where Trump has sharply criticized the Senate&rsquo;s century-old &ldquo;blue slip&rdquo; tradition, arguing it has contributed to a backlog of stalled U.S. attorney nominations. The practice allows home-state senators to block nominees from their state by withholding approval &mdash; a power Trump has likened to the Senate filibuster and urged Republicans to abolish.<\/p>\n<p>But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3908769\/gop-stands-firm-blue-slip-battle-trump-despite-prosecutor-setbacks\/\">refused to budge<\/a>, defending blue slips as a core component of the Senate&rsquo;s constitutional role in providing advice and consent. Grassley has argued that the practice protects checks and balances, encourages the White House to consult with senators, and prevents administrations of either party from jamming through prosecutors and judges who lack local support.<\/p>\n<p>Grassley has also warned that weakening blue slips for U.S. attorneys, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-could-ask-supreme-court-to-weigh-dispute-over-trumps-us-attorneys-2\/\" title=\"... could ask ... to weigh ... over Trump&#039;s US ...s\">typically serve limited terms<\/a> and are often replaced when administrations change, would further erode Senate authority and accelerate a tit-for-tat escalation over confirmation rules.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of 2025, the Senate had confirmed 31 of Trump&rsquo;s U.S. attorney nominees, roughly the same count Biden had seen confirmed by the same time of his single term in office. Leadership under Grassley has notably pointed toward Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/press\/rep\/releases\/senate-republicans-confirm-14-law-and-order-nominees-to-deliver-safer-streets-for-americans\">&ldquo;blanket holds,&rdquo;<\/a> which he announced against all of Trump&rsquo;s nominees in May, as one of the main procedural culprits for delaying confirmations.<\/p>\n<p>The legal issue could mark yet another thorny matter on the justices&rsquo; docket, as Trump has fought since his return to office to exert more direct control over political appointees. The Supreme Court is already considering a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3907415\/trumps-firing-power-faces-major-test-at-the-supreme-court\/\">dispute involving the Federal Trade Commission<\/a>, where the administration is asking the justices to revisit <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3343081\/humphreys-executor-supreme-court-precedent-trump-wants-overturned\/\">Humphrey&rsquo;s Executor<\/a><\/em>  &mdash; the 1935 precedent that restricts a president&rsquo;s ability to remove leaders of independent agencies without cause &mdash; in a case that could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-could-ask-supreme-court-to-weigh-dispute-over-trumps-us-attorneys\/\" title=\"... could ask ... to weigh ... over Trump&#039;s US ...s\">dramatically expand presidential removal power<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, the administration <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4426758\/supreme-court-worried-letting-trump-fire-lisa-cook-jeopardizes-federal-reserve-independence\/\">is also litigating a high-profile removal fight<\/a> involving Federal Reserve Governor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lisa-cook\/\">Lisa Cook<\/a>, raising additional questions about whether Senate-confirmed officials at quasi-independent agencies can be insulated from direct presidential control.<\/p>\n<p>Last summer, veteran Supreme Court litigator and former Bush administration solicitor general Paul Clement <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3481572\/alina-habba-acting-us-attorney-new-jersey\/\">told&nbsp;the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals&rsquo; judicial conference<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >judges appointing executive officers<\/a> is a &ldquo;weird provision.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4426808\/lindsey-halligan-leaves-attorney-post\/\">LINDSEY HALLIGAN LEAVES US ATTORNEYS POST AFTER WEEKS OF JUDICIAL SCRUTINY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Maybe my conservative is peeking out here, but that&rsquo;s an executive branch official,&rdquo; Clement said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s weird to have the judges be in that role.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>With the appeals court door now closed, the administration&rsquo;s next move appears to be aimed squarely at the Supreme Court, where justices could be asked to decide whether lower courts and Senate practices can collectively constrain Trump&rsquo;s effort to keep his preferred prosecutors in place nationwide.<\/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>DOJ may seek Supreme Court review of Trump prosecutors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2553199,"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":[7076,44332,32275,3634,50629],"class_list":["post-2553198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-doj","tag-legal-dispute","tag-supreme-court","tag-trump","tag-us-attorneys"],"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\/2553198","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=2553198"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2553202,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553198\/revisions\/2553202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2553199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2553198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2553198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2553198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}