• A federal judge ruled that Alina Habba unlawfully served as US Attorney in New Jersey.
• Habba's appointment was declared void due to procedural violations in her selection process.
• This ruling could impact hundreds of federal criminal cases in New Jersey.

A federal judge ruled Thursday that Alina Habba, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, has been unlawfully serving as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann determined that Habba's interim period expired in July, and the Trump administration's maneuvers to retain her without Senate confirmation violated federal law. "Faced with the question of whether Ms. Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not," wrote Brann according to HuffPost and Reuters.

The ruling stems from legal challenges brought by two defendants accused of drug trafficking, arguing that Habba lacked authority to prosecute their cases after her designation as interim U.S. Attorney lapsed. Judge Brann noted that her actions since July 1 "may be declared void," including her involvement in prosecuting other cases, according to ABC News and South China Morning Post.

Judge Brann's order is currently on hold pending an appeal by the Justice Department, which has expressed intentions to contest the ruling. The administration's attempts to keep Habba in place included procedural maneuvers that, as per Brann's findings, did not comply with established federal statutes regarding U.S. Attorney appointments, noted CBS News and India Times.

The court's decision could potentially halt numerous federal prosecutions in New Jersey, raising questions about the legitimacy of actions taken by Habba during her tenure. Legal experts have suggested that this ruling may lead to further challenges against other similarly appointed U.S. Attorneys across the country, as indicated by Newsweek and LA Times.

The controversy surrounding Habba’s appointment followed her notable statements and actions during her brief tenure, which included attempts to investigate political figures in the state, further highlighting the contentious nature of her role. The next steps regarding her position and relevant cases remain uncertain as the appeal process unfolds, according to TRT Global and Al Jazeera.