U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has spoken out in defense of Alina Habba following a decision by a panel of federal judges in New Jersey to block the continuation of Habba’s role as the state’s top federal prosecutor.
Habba had been serving as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey on an interim basis.
Bondi expressed her support for Habba on social media, writing, “My friend @USAttyHabba is doing outstanding work in New Jersey — she makes @thejusticedept proud.”
She added that Habba had “been doing a great job in making NJ safe again,” referencing what she described as positive results during Habba’s short tenure.
The comments came after a group of district judges in New Jersey invoked a rarely used provision to prevent Habba from continuing in her position after the expiration of her 120-day interim term.
The panel used statutory authority that allows district court judges to appoint a replacement when no Senate-confirmed nominee has been installed by the end of an interim term, according to Politico.
Instead of permitting Habba to remain in the role, the judges selected Desiree Leigh Grace, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the district, to fill the position.
Grace’s appointment was