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In a highly anticipated move, Alina Habba, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced her resignation on Monday, December 8, 2025, bringing an end to a months-long legal battle over the legitimacy of her appointment. The resignation follows a definitive ruling last week by a federal appeals court, which unanimously upheld a lower court’s finding that Habba was serving in the powerful law enforcement role “without lawful authority.”
Habba, 41, a former personal defense attorney for President Donald Trump, was appointed in March 2025 to serve a temporary term. However, her limited federal court and prosecutorial experience, combined with a clear signal that New Jersey’s two Democratic senators would block her Senate confirmation, set the stage for the legal challenge. When her interim term expired in July, federal judges appointed a subordinate to the role, but Attorney General Pam Bondi swiftly fired the replacement in an attempt to keep Habba in place, a move that only intensified the legal standoff.
The protracted court fight, which included a lower-court judge’s finding that her service was unlawful, caused confusion and delays within New Jersey’s federal court system. Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit disqualified her from the role, stating that the “citizens of New Jersey and the loyal employees in the U.S. Attorney’s Office deserve some clarity and stability.”
In a statement posted on social media, Habba assailed the court’s decision as “flawed” and “political,” but ultimately conceded to the ruling “to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love.” She emphasized that her decision did not signify a retreat, stating, “But do not mistake compliance for surrender. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me.”
Despite her resignation from the U.S. Attorney role, Habba will remain within the Justice Department. She confirmed she will continue serving as “Senior Adviser to the Attorney General for U.S. Attorneys.” Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed Habba’s sentiment, calling the Third Circuit’s ruling “flawed” and vowing that the administration would continue its appeal to reverse the court’s decision. Bondi stated that the ruling had made it “untenable” for Habba to remain, citing “politicized judges pausing trials designed to bring violent criminals to justice.” Habba’s former duties will temporarily be divided among three lawyers in the New Jersey office. Her case is one of several where courts have challenged the appointments of Trump-selected U.S. attorneys for allegedly violating federal appointment laws.
Sources and Links
- New Jersey US Attorney Alina Habba Resigns Source: News Radio 1190 KEX
- Alina Habba resigns as New Jersey US attorney, ending legal battle over her appointment Source: KVNU Talk
- Trump’s former lawyer Alina Habba resigns as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey Source: Associated Press (AP)
- Alina Habba, Trump’s embattled New Jersey prosecutor, says she will leave role Source: The Washington Post
- Trump’s former lawyer Alina Habba says she’s resigning as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey Source: The Guardian
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