{"id":2577921,"date":"2026-03-09T19:50:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T23:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-disqualifies-trump-appointed-leadership-in-nj-us-attorneys-office\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T19:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T23:51:09","slug":"judge-disqualifies-trump-appointed-leadership-in-nj-us-attorneys-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-disqualifies-trump-appointed-leadership-in-nj-us-attorneys-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge disqualifies Trump-appointed leadership in NJ US attorney\u2019s office"},"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\">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%2Fjudge-disqualifies-trump-appointed-leadership-in-nj-us-attorneys-office%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=2577921&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\/iranian-dissidents-slam-nominee-for-top-defense-post\/\" title=\"Iranian Dissidents Slam Nominee for Top Defense Post\">federal judge ruled<\/a> that the leadership of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office in New Jersey, currently overseen by three senior lawyers, was unlawfully appointed and thus invalid. the three-Philip Lamparello, Ari Fontecchio, and Jordan Fox-had been installed to share duties after alina Habba stepped down as acting U.S. Attorney, an arrangement Brann previously found lacked authority for Habba herself. The ruling concluded that dividing the office\u2019s leadership among three people violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. The decision came in a case brought by defendants including Raheel Naviwala, who warned that continuing to operate without a properly appointed U.S. Attorney could jeopardize prosecutions and possibly lead to dismissals. Brann stayed the ruling pending appeal, allowing the trio to remain in place temporarily, while Habba criticized the ruling as an overreach into the executive branch.  <\/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\">Judge disqualifies Trump-appointed leadership in New Jersey US attorney&rsquo;s office<\/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_2420413\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal judge ruled Monday that the three attorneys currently leading the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\">New Jersey <\/a>are serving unlawfully, escalating the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration&rsquo;s<\/a> long-running dispute over who can legally run the federal prosecutor&rsquo;s office in the state.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann issued a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.njd.540663\/gov.uscourts.njd.540663.317.0_2.pdf\">130-page opinion<\/a> disqualifying senior counsel Philip Lamparello, executive assistant U.S. attorney Ari Fontecchio, and special attorney Jordan Fox. The trio had been installed to divide the responsibilities of the U.S. attorney role after former acting U.S. Attorney <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> stepped down in December.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4485794\/fani-willis-trump-legal-fees\/\">Judge rejects Fani Willis bid to intervene in Trump $17 million reimbursement fight<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4485612\/wisconsin-supreme-court-loses-second-conservative-justice-annette-ziegler-retirement\/\">Wisconsin Supreme Court loses second conservative justice with Annette Ziegler retirement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4485075\/whistleblower-says-cbp-chief-targeted-senior-staff-political-vendettas\/\">Whistleblower says CBP chief targeted senior staff over &#8216;political vendettas&#8217;<\/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>Brann, an appointee of former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\">Barack Obama<\/a>, is a Pennsylvania judge who was assigned to weigh the matter to avoid conflicts of interest among New Jersey&rsquo;s federal judges. He stayed his ruling pending appeal, meaning the three attorneys may temporarily continue overseeing the office.<\/p>\n<p>The decision marks the second time in less than a year that Brann has ruled that the office&rsquo;s leadership was unlawfully appointed. Last summer, he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3777750\/judges-ruling-against-alina-habba-tees-up-constitutional-clash\/\">determined<\/a> that Habba, a former personal lawyer for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-systemic-normalization-of-property-theft-birthed-americas-squatter-crisis\/\" title=\"The Democratic Party&#039;s normalization of property theft led to the rise of America&#039;s squatter crisis\">lacked legal authority<\/a> to serve as acting U.S. attorney. An appeals court later upheld that ruling.<\/p>\n<p>After Habba&rsquo;s departure, Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> appointed Lamparello, Fontecchio, and Fox to collectively handle the responsibilities of the office. Brann ruled Monday that dividing the position among three officials violated the Constitution&rsquo;s Appointments Clause.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Government assembles a convoluted patchwork of statutory cross-references to craft a leadership structure that it contends can do anything a United States Attorney can, without being a United States Attorney,&rdquo; Brann wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The case was brought by two defendants challenging their prosecutions, including Raheel Naviwala, a Florida man convicted of defrauding Medicare and other insurers of roughly $100 million.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4434461\/doj-ask-supreme-court-consider-trump-appointed-us-attorneys\/\">DOJ COULD SOOK ASK SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER LEGAL BATTLE OVER TRUMP-APPOINTED US ATTORNEYS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brann warned that continuing to operate the office without a properly appointed U.S. attorney could jeopardize criminal prosecutions.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Any further attempts to unlawfully fill the office will result in dismissals of pending cases,&rdquo; he wrote, cautioning that &ldquo;scores of dangerous criminals could have their cases dismissed or convictions eventually reversed&rdquo; if <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >prosecutors lack legal authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Another ridiculous ruling from Judge Brann disqualifying three individuals serving New Jersey&rsquo;s DOJ front office of the U.S. Attorney. <\/p>\n<p>Judges may continue to try and stop President Trump from carrying out what the American people voted for, but we will not be deterred.<\/p>\n<p>The&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlinaHabba\/status\/2031085185983197357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Habba criticized the ruling on social media, calling it &ldquo;ridiculous&rdquo; and accusing the court of overstepping into the executive branch.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The unconstitutionality of this complete overreach into the Executive Branch, time and time again, will not succeed,&rdquo; Habba wrote. &ldquo;They would rather have no U.S. Attorney than safety for the people of NJ.&rdquo;<\/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>Judge rules NJ US Attorney leadership unlawful<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2577922,"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\/2026\/02\/IMG_1800-e1770844527868.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50433,50402,33096,21534,75441],"class_list":["post-2577921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-judge-2","tag-leadership-2","tag-new-jersey","tag-trump-appointed","tag-us-attorney-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_1800-e1770844527868.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577921","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=2577921"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2577925,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2577921\/revisions\/2577925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2577922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2577921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2577921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2577921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}