New Jersey's top prosecutor steps down following appeals court rules against her appointment.

The ex-lawyer for the former president has resigned as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor. This follows a judicial decision that invalidated her eligibility to serve.

Attorney General's Statement

The nation's top law enforcement official, Pam Bondi, announced Habba's resignation on Monday. In a statement that the appeals court finding made it impossible for the official to perform her duties.

"But do not mistake following the order as giving up," she declared. "The effort will now reach across the country."

Court Ruling

Her resignation comes a week after a federal appellate panel found that she had been acting without proper authority as US attorney. This decision is likely to affect many criminal cases in New Jersey.

The judicial panel declared that a interim role that skirted Senate approval violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Ongoing Legal Battle

The Attorney General added that Habba will stay on at the justice department as a high-level advisor. Habba plans to challenge the decision of the ruling, aiming for a different outcome.

Writing online, the Attorney General argued that judges "must not second-guess the President's choice of lawyers tasked with carrying out the primary duty of the administration of criminal prosecution."

Performance in Office

Bondi praised the prosecutor's work and pointed out that under her leadership, the state capital of Newark saw a significant drop in criminal activity. Additionally that the Camden had its first summer in 50 years free from homicides.

Background and Previous Role

Habba, first joined Trump's personal legal team in recent years. Subsequently, she defended Trump in his hush-money trial in 2024, leading to his conviction on 34 counts of document fraud.

Prior to Habba took on the role of US Attorney, Donald Trump had revealed he was appointing her as his senior adviser during his second administration, describing the lawyer as a steadfast ally and a "tireless advocate for justice".