A committee of federal judges refused to extend Alina Haba’s term as US lawyer for the District of New Jersey beyond the interim period of 120 days.
Renee Marie Bum, a court order signed by the District of New Jersey Supreme Court judge, will now close Haba’s short term.
Instead, the judges lifted up Haba’s representation at the U.S. Lawyer’s Office in New Jersey, and served as the department’s top federal prosecutor.
However, President Donald Trump’s administration soon denounced the judge’s decision as political activity and fired grace from his role before she won the post.
“[Alina Habba] We’ve done a great job making NJ safe again. Nevertheless, the politically hearted judge refused to replace Alina with her first assistant.
“Therefore, New Jersey’s first US lawyer has just been ruled out. The Department of Justice has not tolerated any fraudulent judges.”
Haba’s era as an interim US lawyer sparked controversy as another example of Trump’s choice of close personal contacts to serve the role of government.
Haba himself is also accused of carrying out politically motivated prosecutions while acting as a US lawyer.
During her four-month tenure, she pursued lawsuits against several Democrats, including Newark Mayor Rasbaraka and US representative Ramonica McQuiber.
Both prosecutors stem from efforts by lawmakers to visit and inspect immigration detention facilities in New Jersey. Trump made massive deportation a central pillar of his second term.
Controversial cases
For Baraka and McIver, the incident in question took place on May 9th at Delaney Hall Detention Center, in the suburbs of Newark.
Baraka, a Democratic governor candidate at the time, had repeatedly protested against a newly opened facility that allegedly lacked appropriate local permission.
According to Baraka’s defense team, he was invited inside the Delaney Hall Gate, and members of the US Congress have the right to inspect federal facilities as part of their duties of supervision.
However, he was asked to leave and after he was outside the gate he was handcuffed and ran away. Haba later announced that he was charged with trespassing.
However, within ten days, Haba returned these charges “after extensive consideration.”
At a court hearing that dismissed the case, US Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa cheated representatives of Haba’s office for making a “worrisome mistake.”
Espinoza told prosecutors that public arrests should not be used as an “investigation tool” and warned that criminal charges have “serious reputation and personal consequences.”
Still, as soon as she filed a lawsuit against Baraka, Haba began a lawsuit against Representative McQuiver, who was trying to protect Mayor Newark when he was arrested.
Haba sued McQuiver for a physical attack after being allegedly pushed into a federal agent in a crowd crammed tightly outside Delaney Hall.
McQuiber denied the charges and accused Haba of trying to “blackmail” her. Meanwhile, Baraka sued Haba over “malicious prosecution.”
Haba has also launched an investigation of Democrats Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin on resistance to working closer to the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.
Relationship with Trump
Before joining the Trump administration as an interim US lawyer, Haba served as the president’s personal lawyer.
She represented him in several civil cases before he returned to the White House in January. In one case, Habba represented Trump in an honor-loss lawsuit filed by Summer Zervos, a former contestant on his reality television show The Apprentice.
After Habba threatened the countersuit, Zervos dropped his honorable loss complaints.
But she was also part of two famous incidents where Trump lost. A civil fraud case filed by New York Attorney General Leticia James and a honour and loss lawsuit brought on by author E Jean Carroll. Trump sued both.
Shortly after taking office in March, Trump appointed Haba to serve in the Department of Justice as the US attorney, the top law enforcement officer for a certain district.
However, her position was tentative and concluded with 120 days. To continue beyond the interim period, approval from the Judicial Committee was required.
Still, Trump shows that he wanted Haba to be in her position. Earlier this month, he filed a formal appointment with the US Senate for Haba to remain a US lawyer.
But that nomination faces opposition from New Jersey Sens. Corey Booker and Andy Kim.
Haba didn’t work as a prosecutor until Trump appointed her to the role, and the Senate has not yet acted on her nomination.
Several of Trump’s other candidates to the Justice Department face similar pushbacks.
Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Upstate District of New York refused to retain interim US John Salcone after its 120-day term ended.
Nevertheless, members of the Trump administration were rebellious in the face of the setback.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, another former private attorney for the president, accused a New Jersey judge of “drove” Haba for political reasons.
“A New Jersey district judge proved that this wasn’t about law. It was about politics,” Blanche wrote on social media. “This backroom voting will not override the authority of the CEO.”
