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Alina Habba Resigns as New Jersey U.S. Attorney After Appeals Court Says Tenure Was Unlawful

The Justice Department plans to seek further review of the ruling, with temporary leaders now running the New Jersey office.

Overview

  • A Third Circuit panel last week affirmed a lower-court finding that Habba’s continued service violated federal appointments law and formally disqualified her.
  • Habba said she will stay at the Justice Department as a senior adviser to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
  • Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche named Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox, and Ari Fontecchio to divide leadership of the New Jersey office.
  • Bondi said the department will pursue further review of the decision and indicated Habba could return if the ruling is reversed.
  • Courts have reached similar conclusions in other districts, including a ruling that led to dismissed cases in Virginia, and New Jersey courts experienced paused proceedings and signature workarounds during the dispute.