A Judge Now Finds A MAGA Lawyer's Work Was Illegal • FrankNez Media

On August 21, 2025, a federal judge delivered a significant blow to the Trump administration, ruling that Alina Habba, a former personal attorney to President Donald Trump and a prominent MAGA figure, has been unlawfully serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey since July 1, 2025.

The decision, reported by The Daily Beast, stems from legal challenges by criminal defendants who argued that the administration’s maneuvers to keep Habba in the role violated federal law, throwing the state’s legal system into uncertainty.

The ruling, which disqualifies Habba from participating in ongoing prosecutions, highlights tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary, raising questions about the legitimacy of other politically motivated appointments.

New Details of the Court Ruling

U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann, appointed by President Barack Obama, issued a 77-page opinion stating, “Faced with the question of whether Ms. Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not.”

Brann found that Habba’s actions since July 1, including her approval of indictments, may be declared void due to her lack of legal authority.

The judge emphasized that Habba was not statutorily eligible to serve as acting U.S. Attorney after her 120-day interim term expired, and the administration’s efforts to extend her tenure through unconventional means violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, per NBC News.

The ruling responded to motions by three defendants—Julien Giraud Jr., Julien Giraud III, and Cesar Humberto Pina—facing federal drug trafficking and fraud charges, who argued that Habba’s unauthorized role invalidated their prosecutions.

While Brann declined to dismiss the charges, he disqualified Habba from supervising their cases and warned that any prosecutions under her authority could face similar challenges, per Politico.

The judge paused his order pending an appeal, allowing the Trump administration to argue for Habba’s reinstatement.

Trump Administration’s Maneuvers

Alina Habba Trump Background. — The connection between Alina Habba and President Donald Trump – Politics today by FrankNez Media.

Habba, who served as Trump’s personal attorney and campaigned for him in 2024, was appointed interim U.S. Attorney in March 2025.

Her tenure was marked by controversy, including her public claim that New Jersey could “turn red” and her pursuit of charges against Democratic officials, such as a trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (later dropped) and an assault charge against Rep. LaMonica McIver, per The Guardian.

These actions, seen as politically motivated, drew criticism for undermining the U.S. Attorney’s office’s impartiality, per The New York Times.

When Habba’s interim term neared its July 22, 2025, expiration, New Jersey’s federal judges invoked a 160-year-old law to appoint Desiree Leigh Grace, a respected Republican career prosecutor and Habba’s deputy, as U.S. Attorney.

However, Attorney General Pam Bondi swiftly fired Grace on July 26 and appointed Habba as “Special Attorney to the Attorney General,” then reinstated her as acting U.S. Attorney, bypassing Senate confirmation.

Brann ruled these moves unlawful, noting they circumvented Congress’s role in approving U.S. Attorneys and could allow the president to “staff the office with individuals of his personal choice for an entire term,” per Politico.

Public and Political Reactions

The ruling sparked polarized reactions. On X, @OccupyDemocrats celebrated it as a “crushing defeat” for Trump, though their claim that Habba served as U.S. Attorney for New York was inaccurate, as her role was in New Jersey.

MAGA supporters, like @mwal7777, decried the decision as evidence of “corrupt Democrat federal judges.”

@WritePaintDraw highlighted Habba’s politicization of the office, noting her investigations into New Jersey’s Democratic governor and attorney general.

Legal experts praised the ruling’s thoroughness. Abbe Lowell and Gerald Krovatin, attorneys for defendant Cesar Pina, stated, “Prosecutors wield enormous power, and with that comes the responsibility to ensure they are qualified and properly appointed,” per Reuters.

James Pearce, representing New Jersey’s criminal defense lawyers, called it “deeply irresponsible” for the DOJ to continue under Habba’s leadership.

Attorney General Bondi vowed to appeal, posting on X that Habba “is doing incredible work in New Jersey.”

What This Means for the Trump Administration

The ruling exposes vulnerabilities in Trump’s strategy to install loyalists in key roles, with similar tactics used to retain U.S. Attorneys in California and New York, per Fox News.

With Trump’s approval rating at 39% per an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, the controversy could further erode public trust, especially as his administration faces other legal battles, such as challenges to mass deportation policies.

The DOJ’s 60% lawyer attrition rate since late 2024, driven by conflicts over Trump’s policies, underscores internal turmoil.

The New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s office faces uncertainty, as Brann’s ruling leaves unclear who legally leads it, with Grace’s brief tenure and subsequent firing complicating the chain of command.

As the appeal looms, the case could set a precedent for challenging other Trump appointees, potentially reshaping the administration’s approach to federal appointments ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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Also Read: Federal Judge Now Blocks DOJ’s Bid To Unseal Epstein Materials, What it Means

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