A lawyer once seen defending Donald Trump now stands in court for her own career. Alina Habba, who took charge as the acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, is fighting to keep her post after a federal appeals court in Philadelphia raised serious questions about her appointment.
The hearing on October 20, 2025, has sparked national attention, with judges pressing government lawyers on whether Habba’s appointment was a legitimate move or a shortcut that ignored federal rules.
Key Takeaways
- Alina Habba’s appointment as acting U.S. Attorney is under legal scrutiny for bypassing Senate approval.
- A Philadelphia appeals court questioned if her extended term broke federal law.
- If she loses, dozens of her cases could be dismissed, shaking New Jersey’s justice system.
- The case could impact other Trump-era appointments in Nevada and New York.
- Social media support for Habba has surged, but criticism is equally strong.
Alina Habba : The Fight in Court
Donald Trump picked Habba in March 2025, and the Senate did not have to approve it. She quickly got attention after accusing Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver of assault and pointing out that crime rates in Newark were going down.
But by the summer, people were questioning her power. A lower court said that her 120-day interim period was over and that trying to keep her in power by giving her new titles was against the law.
Three judges D. Brooks Smith, D. Michael Fisher, and Luis Felipe Restrepo asked questions about the Justice Department’s case at the appeals hearing.
Smith asked if Habba was doing two jobs at once, and Fisher said that Congress never meant for politicians to skip the system. Abbe Lowell, the defense lawyer, said that the government’s legal defense was “a Frankenstein mix of seven laws.” The panel’s tone was harsh, which made people think that the judges weren’t convinced.
During Habba’s Time
Habba has been busy, even though the law is against him. She was in charge of the indictment of Rep.
McIver, who could spend up to 17 years in prison for allegedly getting in the way of federal officers during a May protest at an immigration center.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also charged but later cleared. Some people think the move is politically motivated, but Habba’s supporters say she is brave for taking a stand.
Habba also talks about how crime has gone down, saying that Newark and Camden had their first summer without a murder in 50 years.
She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “These numbers don’t lie,” and she was happy with what she called “America First justice.”
The Bigger Legal Fight
The Federal Vacancies Reform Act is at the heart of the problem. It only lets people hold interim jobs for 120 days.
To avoid being turned down by New Jersey’s Democratic senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, Trump pulled Habba’s formal nomination.
Attorney General Pam Bondi then gave Habba a new title to keep her in her job. Lawyers and former prosecutors from both parties have called this “lawless maneuvering.”
If the courts throw out the appointment, it could cause other similar cases to fall apart all over the country.
A judge in Nevada has already fired another Trump appointee, which could set a precedent for the Supreme Court.
The Storm Online
Since October 1, there have been 150% more posts about Habba on X, for a total of 45,000. Her account gained 12,000 followers, bringing the total to 577K.
People who support Trump have come out in support of her with hashtags like #ConfirmAlina, calling her a “patriot warrior.”
But opponents are just as loud, which is why #FireHabba is trending among liberals. Online sentiment studies show that 65% of pro-Trump users are positive, while 75% of users in other groups are negative. This is a clear sign of the country’s divide.
| Metric | Data (Oct 1–21, 2025) |
|---|---|
| X Mentions | 45,000+ |
| Top Post Engagement | 4.5K likes |
| News Hits | Multiple major outlets |
| Sentiment Split | 65% positive (MAGA) / 75% negative (others) |
| Trending Hashtags | #ConfirmAlina, #FireHabba |
What’s next?
It is possible that a decision will be made in the next few weeks. If the court decides against her, ongoing prosecutions may fall apart, and the Justice Department could face a political storm.
For his fans, Habba is a tough enforcer. Critics say she stands for political interference.
No matter what, Alina Habba’s fight is far from over, and the outcome could change how much power a president has over the justice system.
