Federal Judge Rules New Jersey U.S. Attorney Appointment Unlawful
A federal judge ruled Alina Habba's appointment as New Jersey's U.S. Attorney unlawful due to her expired interim term without Senate confirmation, a decision the Justice Department plans to appeal.
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Overview
A federal judge has ruled Alina Habba's appointment as New Jersey's U.S. Attorney unlawful, citing that her 120-day interim term expired without the required Senate confirmation.
The ruling originated from a challenge by New Jersey defendants facing federal drug-trafficking charges, who argued Habba lacked the authority to prosecute them after her term expired.
The Justice Department intends to appeal the decision, asserting the executive branch's authority to appoint individuals for enforcing federal laws, with the ruling currently placed on hold.
This judicial decision could potentially lead to similar legal challenges against other U.S. attorneys appointed by President Trump whose temporary terms also expired without Senate approval.
Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim previously blocked Habba's nomination, which led to its withdrawal by Mr. Trump, highlighting ongoing issues with senatorial courtesy rules.
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