Key Facts
• December 1, 2025: US Appeals Court ruled Alina Habba’s appointment unlawful.
• Habba, 41, was appointed by Trump as New Jersey federal prosecutor this year.
• Federal court previously rejected her appointment; Trump assigned her as acting prosecutor.
• Court deemed bypassing Senate approval violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
• Habba is the second Trump-appointed prosecutor disqualified in recent weeks.
• Judge Michael Fisher criticized the administration’s frustration with legal obstacles.
• Three lawyers challenged Habba’s appointment, citing constitutional violations.
• Habba joined Trump’s legal team in 2021 after meeting at his golf club.
• She represented Trump in a hush money case, where he faced 34 felony charges.
• The ruling may require the Justice Department to find a new prosecutor for New Jersey.
• Similar legal issues have affected other Trump-appointed prosecutors in Virginia, California, and Nevada.
Summary
A US Appeals Court ruled on December 1, 2025, that Alina Habba, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump, was unlawfully serving as New Jersey’s federal prosecutor. The court found that bypassing Senate approval for her appointment violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Habba, who joined Trump’s legal team in 2021, is the second Trump-appointed prosecutor disqualified recently. The decision follows challenges from three lawyers who argued her appointment breached constitutional processes. This ruling may compel the Justice Department to appoint a new prosecutor for New Jersey. Similar legal challenges have affected other Trump-appointed prosecutors in Virginia, California, and Nevada.
