The Justice Division on Tuesday mentioned it fired Desiree Leigh Grace because the newly appointed U.S. Lawyer for the District of New Jersey, hours after federal judges within the state selected her over President Donald Trump’s decide, Alina Habba.
The announcement got here simply hours after federal judges in New Jersey opted to not appoint Habba, Trump’s former private lawyer, because the state’s prime federal prosecutor on a everlasting foundation after Trump appointed Habba because the state’s performing U.S. lawyer in March.
“This Division of Justice doesn’t tolerate rogue judges — particularly after they threaten the President’s core Article II powers,” Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi posted on X in saying Grace’s firing.
Grace was Habba’s first assistant earlier than district judges elevated her to the highest job, establishing Habba’s ouster.
Habba was awaiting Senate affirmation when her 120-day time period as performing U.S. lawyer expired this week.
Earlier Justice Departments have acknowledged that district judges have the authority to call a United States lawyer if the president’s nominee just isn’t acted upon by the U.S. Senate inside 120 days.
It is unclear if the Trump Justice Division now believes it may bypass that course of.
Alina Habba speaks after being sworn in as interim US Lawyer Normal for New Jersey, within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, March 28, 2025.
Pool through AP, FILE
Grace, a nine-year profession prosecutor, beforehand ran the New Jersey workplace’s prison division.
Habba served as Trump’s authorized spokesperson in a number of circumstances after he left the White Home in 2021.
When Trump reassumed the presidency this 12 months, she was one in every of a minimum of 4 of his protection attorneys to be named to posts in his administration, together with Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and John Sauer.
“Alina is President Trump’s selection to steer,” Blanche, the deputy lawyer common, mentioned on social media after the judges introduced Grace’s promotion earlier Tuesday. “No partisan bench can override that.”
In her tenure as performing U.S. lawyer, Habba made a mark in politically charged circumstances, bringing prosecutions towards Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, each Democrats.
She additionally challenged New Jersey State Police over sanctuary insurance policies associated to immigration enforcement.
