Overview

• U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann ruled last week that Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as New Jersey’s U.S. attorney since July 1, with parts of the order stayed while the case proceeds.
• The Justice Department led by Attorney General Pam Bondi has filed an appeal, following earlier maneuvers that included firing court‑appointed replacement Desiree Leigh Grace and reinstalling Habba.
• On Fox News, Habba criticized Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Thom Tillis for defending the blue‑slip custom, which New Jersey Democrats Cory Booker and Andy Kim have used to block her nomination.
• President Donald Trump escalated the pressure on Grassley in a new Truth Social post attacking the blue‑slip practice and urging Republican leaders to ignore it.
• Habba alleged federal judges engaged in “collusion” against her without presenting evidence, as critics continue to point to her indictment of Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver, who has pleaded not guilty and calls the case political.