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The former personal attorney for Donald Trump has stepped down as the chief federal prosecutor in the state. This follows a court battle that questioned her legal standing to hold the office.

Official Departure

US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, announced Habba's resignation on Monday. In a statement that the appeals court finding made it "untenable" for her to perform her duties.

"Let no one confuse compliance for surrender," Habba stated. "This battle will now stretch across the nation."

Court Ruling

The departure was triggered by a judicial panel found that she had been unlawfully serving as the top prosecutor. This decision is could influence scores of prosecutions in the state.

The appellate judges said that a temporary posting that did not receive Senate approval ran afoul of the federal law governing appointments.

Future Role and Reaction

Bondi said that the former prosecutor will continue working within the justice department as a top consultant. They intend to challenge the decision of the disqualification, with hopes of a different outcome.

On a social media platform, she contended that the judiciary "should not be able to override the President's choice of attorneys responsible for executing the executive branch's core responsibility of prosecuting crime."

Record and Legacy

The attorney general praised Habba's record and said that during her run, the city of Newark saw a significant drop in offenses. It was also reported that the southern city of Camden had its first summer in 50 years free from homicides.

Legal Career

Habba, 41, originally became part of Donald Trump's lawyers in 2021. Subsequently, she acted for Trump in his business records case in 2024, which resulted in his guilty verdict on dozens of charges of falsifying business records.

Earlier, her appointment to the top New Jersey post, Trump had announced he was appointing her as his senior adviser if re-elected, describing the lawyer as deeply loyal and a "tireless advocate for justice".