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Judges Decline to Extend Habba’s Appointment, Name Grace as New Jersey U.S. Attorney

The court acted despite a public appeal from the Deputy Attorney General affirming DOJ leadership’s confidence in her performance.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: White House Presidential Counselor Alina Habba delivers remarks before being sworn in as the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in the Oval Office at the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • A panel of New Jersey federal judges refused to extend Alina Habba’s 120-day interim tenure and instead appointed her deputy, Desiree Leigh Grace, as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
  • Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had publicly urged the judges to retain Habba, stating she had “the full confidence” of Justice Department leadership.
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had called on the court to remove Habba, accusing her of being a “woefully unqualified political hack” over prosecutions of Democratic officials.
  • Habba’s brief tenure saw the disbandment of the Civil Rights Division and significant internal turmoil that shattered morale among career prosecutors.
  • U.S. District Judge André Espinosa sharply rebuked Habba’s office for the hasty arrest and swift dismissal of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka’s trespassing charge.