Appeals Court Disqualifies Trump's Pick as New Jersey Federal Prosecutor. A US appeals court has ruled that President Trump's former personal lawyer, Alina Habba, was unlawfully serving as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey. Habba was handpicked by Trump earlier this year, but her appointment bypassed Senate confirmation, violating the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. The ruling could affect numerous criminal cases across the state. Habba, who represented Trump in his New York hush-money trial, had been serving in an acting role after a district court rejected her nomination. Judges said this marks the first time an appeals court has blocked Trump from installing a loyalist without following statutory and constitutional procedures. Habba's disqualification comes amid a series of challenges to Trump-appointed prosecutors in other states. The Justice Department will now need to appoint a new prosecutor to oversee federal criminal cases in New Jersey while Habba's removal underscores ongoing tensions over presidential appointments and the limits of executive power.