DOJ Fires Alina Habba's Replacement Just Hours After Ouster by Anti-Trump 'Rogue Judges'

In a move that underscores the ongoing political battles surrounding President Donald Trump’s appointments, a panel of activist federal judges in New Jersey voted Tuesday not to extend Alina Habba’s term as the interim US attorney for the state.

Habba, who was appointed to the position by Trump earlier this year, was informed that her three-month stint would end on July 26.

It came after the panel, consisting mainly of anti-Trump judges appointed by Barack Obama and Joe Biden, refused to confirm her for a longer term.

Following the judges’ vote on Tuesday, Chief District Judge Renée Marie Bumb signed an order appointing First Assistant Desiree Leigh Grace to take over the role.

Attorney General Pam Bondi immediately took action, firing Grace from her position as First Assistant US Attorney.

In a statement posted on X, Bondi made it clear that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would not stand for what she called “rogue judges.”

She said, “This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers.”

Bondi then announced the firing of Grace, stating that the First Assistant US Attorney had been “removed.”

.@USAttyHabba has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again. Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant.

Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just…

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) July 22, 2025

The drama surrounding Habba’s nomination and the refusal by the New Jersey federal judges to extend her interim appointment has raised eyebrows.

Federal law allows for district judges to extend an interim term if a nominee fails to receive Senate confirmation, but in this case, Habba’s term expired without that extension.

After Habba was appointed to the post in March, New Jersey’s Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, refused to grant their “blue slips.”

Had they done so, it would have allowed the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider Habba’s confirmation.

This effectively blocked her from the standard Senate vetting process.

As a result, Habba had to rely on New Jersey’s 17 federal judges, most of whom were appointed by Obama and Biden, to extend her term.

However, in a signed order, Judge Bumb announced that Grace would replace Habba.

The decision was met with sharp criticism from conservative circles, accusing the panel of politically motivated moves.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was quick to pile on, accusing Habba of a “malicious” prosecution against Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).

McIver is facing criminal charges for assaulting a federal officer during her involvement in a protest at a Newark ICE facility.

In a July 18 post on X, Jeffries claimed Habba was a “woefully unqualified political hack” and that she should be removed from her position.

Jeffries’ remarks drew sharp backlash from conservative legal groups, including the Article III Project, which filed a complaint with the US House Ethics Committee.

The complaint accuses the Democrat leader of “corruptly strong-arming” New Jersey’s judges to fire Habba.

Mike Davis, president of the Article III Project, called out Jeffries for “improperly intervening in federal criminal proceedings” involving McIver.

Habba’s tenure as the Garden State’s top prosecutor had been controversial, with critics pointing to her ties to Trump’s legal team.

Habba’s actions had led to some high-profile cases, including the investigation into Newark Mayor Ras Baraka over a protest at the ICE detention center.

While no charges were ultimately filed against Baraka, the controversy surrounding these events only added fuel to the fire surrounding her appointment.

After the panel’s decision not to extend Habba’s term, Bondi wasted no time in firing Grace, making it clear that the DOJ would not tolerate what she described as judicial overreach.

“We will not allow politically motivated judges to undermine the President’s appointments or dismiss his authority,” Bondi declared.

This dramatic turn of events highlights the deepening divide in the country’s judicial and political systems.

President Trump’s judicial appointments have long been a point of contention, with the Left pushing back fiercely against any of his nominees.

The tension between judicial power and executive appointments is playing out on the national stage once again.

The decision to fire Grace and the refusal to extend Habba’s term come as yet another chapter in the ongoing battle between President Trump’s administration and Democrat politicians determined to limit his influence.

With Trump’s influence over judicial appointments under attack, these latest developments underscore the larger ideological battle playing out at all levels of government.