Overview
- Habba stepped down a week after a unanimous Third Circuit panel upheld a district court finding that her continued service violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act following her 120‑day term.
- She said she resigned to protect the office’s stability and will remain at the Justice Department as senior advisor to Attorney General Pam Bondi for U.S. attorneys.
- Bondi accepted the resignation and said the department will pursue further review of the ruling, expressing confidence it will be reversed.
- The DOJ announced a temporary leadership plan for the New Jersey office: Philip Lamparello over criminal and special prosecutions, Jordan Fox over civil and appellate matters, and Ari Fontecchio managing administration.
- Courts have issued similar rulings against other Trump-installed acting prosecutors, including a Virginia case that disqualified Lindsey Halligan and led to dismissed indictments, and judges in New Jersey had paused sentencings, pleas, and trials during the dispute.