Alina Habba leaves her post after court rules against her service.
The former personal attorney for Donald Trump has stepped down as the US Attorney for New Jersey. This comes after a court battle that questioned her legal standing to hold the office.
Acceptance of Resignation
The head of the Justice Department, Pam Bondi, confirmed her stepping down on Monday. She commented that the appeals court finding made it "untenable" for Habba to perform her duties.
"But do not mistake adherence to the ruling as defeat," Habba stated. "This battle will now reach across the country."
Judicial Challenge
The departure comes a week after a US appeals court found that she had been unlawfully serving as the top prosecutor. This decision is could influence numerous prosecutions in the state.
The court said that a interim role that skirted the advice and consent of the Senate ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
Next Steps and Responses
It was also stated that Habba will stay on at the DOJ as a top consultant. Habba plans to pursue additional appeals of the court's action, with hopes of a reversal.
Writing online, she wrote that judges "cannot be permitted to countermand the executive's selection of attorneys responsible for performing the executive branch's core responsibility of prosecuting crime."
Performance in Office
The attorney general commended Habba's record and said that during her run, the state capital of Newark saw a significant drop in offenses. It was also reported that the southern city of Camden had its initial homicide-free summer since 1974 with no murders.
Background and Previous Role
Habba, 41, was initially recruited to Trump's personal legal team in recent years. She went on to defended the former president in his business records case in 2024, when he was conviction on multiple felony counts of financial record manipulation.
Earlier, assuming the role of US Attorney, Trump had announced he was selecting her as his presidential counsellor during his second administration, calling Habba as "unwavering in her loyalty" and a "tireless advocate for justice".
