Matthew Brann Archives - New Jersey Globe

D.C. Dispatch: What N.J.’s members of Congress did in Washington this week

April 18, 2026 9:54 amApril 20, 2026 12:33 pm

The people of New Jersey’s 11th district have elected a new congresswoman: Rep.-elect Analilia Mejia (D-Glen Ridge). Mejia now has the privilege of joining a fractious, cantankerous legislative body that tied itself in knots this week debating Iran, Israel, and...

D.C. Dispatch: What N.J.’s members of Congress did in Washington this week

March 13, 2026 7:34 pm

The Trump administration’s U.S. Attorney appointments in New Jersey were once again ruled out of order, Senator Cory Booker wants to cut federal income taxes, and senators passed the first major housing reform bill in years while the House was...

Judge says Trump admin’s tripartite U.S. Attorney structure is unlawful

March 9, 2026 3:42 pmMarch 9, 2026 5:26 pm

After Alina Habba was barred from continuing to serve as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey late last year, the Department of Justice came up with an unusual workaround to replace her: name three different prosecutors as...

Third Circuit judges probe ‘unusual’ circumstances of Habba’s appointment

October 20, 2025 2:43 pmOctober 20, 2025 11:49 pm

The Trump administration’s efforts to keep Alina Habba as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey faced a key test today, as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments about whether or not to overrule a...

Was Alina Habba’s appointment legal? Ten ex-U.S. Attorneys say no.

October 7, 2025 10:42 amOctober 7, 2025 10:53 am

Two weeks before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals hears a dispute over whether acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba was appointed unlawfully, ten former U.S. Attorneys – spanning the Reagan to the Biden administrations...

Habba was ‘erroneously disqualified’ by judge, Justice Department says in appeal

September 16, 2025 4:00 pm

When a federal judge ruled last month that acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba lacked authority to continue serving in her role, he erred in his interpretation of the law in multiple ways, the Department of Justice (DOJ) argues in a...

Habba appeal may not be heard for months, putting N.J. cases in limbo

August 26, 2025 4:58 pmAugust 27, 2025 4:33 pm

August 27 update: the Third Circuit has approved the Justice Department’s proposed briefing timeline, though it has not yet set a date for oral arguments. After a Pennsylvania judge determined last week that acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba had not...