ALINA HABBA resigns as top Federal prosecutor in New Jersey

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 -The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Alina Habba — a former personal attorney to Donald Trump — has stepped down from her role as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. The resignation follows a ruling by the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that declared her appointment unlawful.

Habba was first installed in March 2025 for a 120-day interim term — a temporary arrangement that would require either Senate confirmation or replacement. When the interim period expired that July, a panel of New Jersey federal judges refused to extend her stay and instead installed a career prosecutor, but the Justice Department quickly fired the replacement and reappointed Habba through a series of legal maneuvers.

After the appeals court’s unanimous decision, Habba announced her resignation “to protect the stability and integrity” of the office, while stressing that the administration will continue to fight the ruling. She is expected to take on a new role as a senior adviser to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said the Justice Department may appeal the decision — leaving open the possibility that Habba could return if the ruling is overturned.

This episode underscores the mounting conflict between the Trump administration’s strategy of using interim appointments to install loyalists to powerful prosecutorial posts, and judicial efforts to keep the process within the boundaries of the law. With the court now exerting pressure on similar appointments across the country, the Justice Department faces a significant legal and institutional test ahead.