Alina Haba, named by President Donald Trump as New Jersey’s federal prosecutor, has stepped down after a federal court ruled that her appointment was not “lawful.”
The announcement came on Monday from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who expressed her “sadness” over Haba’s resignation.
A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously backed U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann’s earlier ruling, which challenged the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) claim that Haba was correctly appointed.
Haba was initially slated to serve as a counselor to the president in December 2024 but was promoted to acting U.S. attorney in March. However, she was removed from that role in July following a vote among district court judges. I guess she was expected to be replaced as chief of staff after a 120-day interim period.
The DOJ acted quickly to replace Haba with Desiree Grace, and Bondi took over as Grace’s former chief deputy, overseeing the office until a court mandated her removal.
Bondi commented on the court’s ruling, saying it hinders a judge’s efforts to pursue justice against violent criminals, making it tough for Haba to effectively lead her office. She also noted that judges shouldn’t have the ability to oppose the president’s choice of attorneys responsible for prosecuting crimes within the executive branch.
Continuing, the attorney general mentioned, “This situation is particularly unfortunate given Alina’s determination.” Under her leadership, Newark saw crime rates drop by 20 percent, and Camden experienced its first murder-free summer in half a century.
Following the Third Circuit’s decision, a report suggested that the legality of Haba’s appointment and possible violations of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act could be taken up by the Supreme Court.
Bondi indicated that the Justice Department would pursue “further review” of this ruling and expressed confidence that the decision would be overturned.
If that occurs, Haba is expected to return to her position in the U.S. attorney’s office and plans to keep contributing to the Justice Department as a senior adviser.
