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Alina Habba has stepped down as the US Attorney for New Jersey. This follows a court battle that questioned her legal standing to serve.

Acceptance of Resignation

The head of the Justice Department, Pam Bondi, accepted Habba's resignation on Monday. Bondi stated that the judicial decision made it impossible for Habba to effectively run her office.

"Let no one confuse following the order as giving up," she declared. "This battle will now extend throughout the nation."

Court Ruling

Habba's exit comes a week after a judicial panel ruled that she had been acting without proper authority as the federal prosecutor. This ruling is expected to impact many legal proceedings in the Garden State.

The court said that a acting appointment that did not receive the advice and consent of the Senate ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Ongoing Legal Battle

The Attorney General added that the former prosecutor will remain at the DOJ as a senior adviser. She will pursue additional appeals of the disqualification, in the hope of achieving a reversal.

In a statement, she contended that the court "must not second-guess the appointment of lawyers responsible for executing the primary duty of the administration of criminal prosecution."

Record and Legacy

Bondi commended Habba's record and noted that under her leadership, the state capital of Newark saw a significant drop in criminal activity. Additionally that the southern city of Camden had its first summer in 50 years without a homicide.

Background and Previous Role

Habba, was initially recruited to Trump's personal legal team in 2021. Subsequently, she acted for Trump in his business records case in 2024, leading to his conviction on multiple felony counts of financial record manipulation.

Earlier, Habba took on the federal prosecutor position, the former president had stated he was naming her as his senior adviser in a potential future term, describing Habba as deeply loyal and a "tireless advocate for justice".