Coverage dated August 20, 2025 to August 21, 2025

Alina Habba's appointment as U.S. attorney for New Jersey was 'unlawful,' judge rules

Headline from NBC New York

The federal judge found that Habba has "unlawfully held the role" of the state's top prosecutor for more than a month.

NBC New York's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

35 articles, oldest first.

WMUR
Judge: Alina Habba unlawfully served as US attorney in New Jersey (opens WMUR)
Published Aug 20, 2025
WMUR's feed description
A judge has ruled that President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Alina Habba, has been unlawfully serving as the the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
NBC New York
Alina Habba's appointment as U.S. attorney for New Jersey was 'unlawful,' judge rules (opens NBC New York)
Published Aug 21, 2025
NBC New York's feed description
The federal judge found that Habba has "unlawfully held the role" of the state's top prosecutor for more than a month.
PBS NewsHour
Judge rules former Trump lawyer Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as U.S. attorney in New Jersey (opens PBS NewsHour)
Published Aug 20, 2025
PBS NewsHour's feed description
The court, saying the administration used “a novel series of legal and personnel moves,” held that Habba’s term as the interim U.S. attorney ended in July, and the Trump administration’s maneuvers to keep her in the role without getting confirmation from the U.S.
New York Post
Trump pick Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as US Attorney in New Jersey, judge rules (opens New York Post)
Published Aug 20, 2025
New York Post's feed description
A judge ruled Thursday that President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, has been unlawfully serving as the the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
ABC 11 Raleigh
Judge says former Trump lawyer Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as US attorney in NJ (opens ABC 11 Raleigh)
Published Aug 20, 2025
ABC 11 Raleigh's feed description
A judge ruled that President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Alina Habba, has been unlawfully serving as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
The Guardian
Judge rules ex-Trump lawyer unlawfully serving as US attorney in New Jersey (opens The Guardian)
Published Aug 20, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
Matthew Brann finds US government used ‘a novel series of legal and personnel moves’ to try to retain Alina Habba
Philadelphia Inquirer
Judge says former Trump lawyer Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as US attorney in New Jersey (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)
Published Aug 20, 2025
Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description
A judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, has been unlawfully serving as the the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
Fox News
Federal judge rules Trump appointee Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as US attorney (opens Fox News)
Published Aug 20, 2025
Fox News's feed description
A judge on Thursday found that Alina Habba was unlawfully serving in the role of acting U.S. attorney of New Jersey after President Donald Trump sidestepped the appointment process.
The Hill
Federal judge finds Alina Habba unlawfully serving as US attorney for NJ (opens The Hill)
Published Aug 20, 2025
The Hill's feed description
A federal judge ruled that Alina Habba unlawfully served as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor.
CBS News
Former Trump attorney Alina Habba is serving unlawfully as New Jersey (opens CBS News)
Published Aug 20, 2025
CBS News's feed description
Alina Habba, President Trump's former personal lawyer, has been serving as New Jersey's U.S. attorney "without lawful authority" since early July, a judge said.
Forbes
Alina Habba Isn’t Lawfully Serving As U.S. Attorney, Judge Rules (opens Forbes)
Published Aug 20, 2025
Forbes's feed description
The judge disqualified the former Trump lawyer from overseeing a case against criminal defendants who challenged her authority.
CNN
Alina Habba, Trump’s former personal lawyer, is not legally serving as the acting US attorney for New Jersey, judge rules (opens CNN)
Published Aug 20, 2025
CNN's feed description
A federal judge on Thursday said President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Alina Habba is not legally serving as the acting US attorney for New Jersey, laying the groundwork for a potential appellate court review of the Trump administration’s method for installing some top prosecutors around t…
NBC News
Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba's appointment as U.S. attorney for New Jersey was 'unlawful,' judge rules (opens NBC News)
Published Aug 20, 2025
NBC News's feed description
The federal judge found that Habba has "unlawfully held the role" of the state's top prosecutor for more than a month.
Blaze Media
Federal judge rules Alina Habba is not lawfully acting as US attorney for NJ (opens Blaze Media)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Blaze Media's feed description
Two accused drug traffickers challenged Habba's authority.
Hot Air
Judge Says Alina Habba, Trump’s Top Federal Prosecutor in NJ, Not Lawfully Appointed (opens Hot Air)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Hot Air's feed description
Judge disqualifies Alina Habba, Trump’s federal prosecutor in NJ, over appointment legality.
Washington Examiner
Habba says judges should be 'respecting' Trump after her US attorney service ruled unlawful (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
A federal judge ruled earlier Thursday that Habba's appointment as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey was unlawful.
NPR
Judge rules Alina Habba has been serving as U.S. attorney without legal authority (opens NPR)
Published Aug 21, 2025
NPR's feed description
NPR talks with Politico's Ry Rivard about a ruling that a former Trump personal attorney Alina Habba, appointed as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor, has been in the position without legal authority.
The Hill
Alina Habba judge is Republican, Federalist Society member (opens The Hill)
Published Aug 21, 2025
The Hill's feed description
Obama-appointed Judge Matthew Brann has deep GOP ties, despite ruling Trump pick Alina Habba lacks authority as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.
Al Jazeera
Judge rules Trump lawyer Alina Habba is unlawfully serving as US attorney (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Al Jazeera's feed description
The Trump administration has ignored a July decision from a panel of judges replacing Habba as interim US attorney.
Washington Examiner
Judge's ruling against Alina Habba tees up constitutional clash (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
A judge ruled Habba unlawfully held the U.S. attorney post in New Jersey, but stayed his order, teeing up an appeals court clash.
Los Angeles Times
Judge says former Trump lawyer Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as U.S. attorney in New Jersey (opens Los Angeles Times)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Los Angeles Times's feed description
A judge has ruled that President Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, has been unlawfully serving as the the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey.
Breitbart News
Judge Rules Alina Habba Unlawfully Serving as Acting U.S. Attorney (opens Breitbart News)
Published Aug 21, 2025
Breitbart News's feed description
A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as acting U.S. Attorney of New Jersey.
New York Post
Trump pick Alina Habba blasts ‘rogue judges’ for ruling she’s unlawfully serving as NJ’s top federal prosecutor (opens New York Post)
Published Aug 21, 2025
New York Post's feed description
President Trump appointee Alina Habba blamed the ruling that she's been illegally serving as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor on "rogue judges" fixated on being "activists."
The New Republic
Trump’s Dumbest Lawyer Is About to Be Out of a Job—Again (opens The New Republic)
Published Aug 21, 2025
The New Republic's feed description
A judge has ruled that Alina Habba has no lawful standing to serve as acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.