Habba’s term as the interim U.S. attorney expired this week, and since the Senate never voted to confirm her, it was up to federal judges in the state to vote to extend her term—which they declined to do, instead appointing her deputy Desiree Leigh Grace to fill the role on Tuesday.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump has moved to keep his former defense attorney Alina Habba on the job as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, even though a panel of judges refused to extend her tenure.

Trump doubles down on Alina Habba's nomination for U.S. attorney in New Jersey after federal judges declined to extend her interim term, creating confusion over who will assume the role.

The Trump administration could try to use a workaround to keep Habba effectively in the U.S. Attorney role—but that could present legal challenges.

The Department of Justice quickly fired the newly named US attorney in New Jersey on Tuesday after federal judges in the state declined to extend Alina Habba’s interim appointment.

Trump’s action avoids a provision of federal law that restricts a person from serving as an acting officer if the president has submitted their nomination to the Senate, according to the report. That law limits her time as acting U.S. attorney to 210 days.

Habba’s disastrous tenure as a federal prosecutor appeared to be over — until Donald Trump and Pam Bondi came up with a scheme to keep her in place.

President Trump’s pick for New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, Alina Habba, on Thursday said she would continue on in the position despite a judicial decision declining to extend her