HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — A federal judge ruled Monday that three prosecutors appointed to oversee the New Jersey attorney general’s office by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi were installed illegally because they lacked Senate confirmation. The ruling follows an earlier court decision that disqualified Alina Habba, a former lawyer for President Donald Trump, from the same role.
Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann said the appointments repeated the same legal error that invalidated Habba’s tenure. Bondi had attempted to restructure the position by dividing responsibilities among three lawyers—Jordan Fox, Ari Fontecchio, and Philip Lamparello—arguing that splitting the role eliminated the need for Senate confirmation.
In a 130-page ruling, Brann rejected that argument, writing that allowing such appointments would enable a president to bypass Congress entirely when naming U.S. attorneys. The judge warned that continued reliance on unconfirmed leadership could jeopardize criminal prosecutions handled by the office.
Brann did not immediately order the removal of the prosecutors while the government appeals the decision. However, he cautioned that pending cases could face dismissal if the leadership structure is found to be unlawful.
The dispute began when several criminal defendants challenged the legitimacy of the prosecutors overseeing their cases. Habba, who now serves as a senior adviser to Bondi, criticized the decision on social media, calling it “another ridiculous ruling” and accusing the judiciary of interfering with executive authority.
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