Appeals Court Confirms Alina Habba’s Disqualification as New Jersey Prosecutor

In a setback for the Trump administration, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling disqualifying Alina Habba as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, citing violations of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. This decision arose from a motion by Julien Giraud Jr., who argued Habba’s appointment was unlawful amid his drug trafficking charges. U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann had previously ruled her appointment unlawful, noting she was named to a time-limited position without Senate confirmation. The ruling reflects ongoing legal challenges faced by the Trump administration regarding the appointments of its officials.