DOJ Removes New Jersey U.S. Attorney Amid Claims of Judicial Defiance

The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump removed Desiree Grace as first assistant U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after she was appointed to replace Alina Habba, Trump’s pick who faced opposition from Democratic senators. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused judges of undermining presidential authority by forcing out Habba and installing Grace, actions condemned by Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim as threats to judicial independence. Meanwhile, federal judges, including some appointed by former Democratic administrations, criticized White House rhetoric for inciting attacks and intimidation against the judiciary. President Trump has also urged Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to abandon the century-old 'blue slip' tradition, which allows home-state senators to block judicial nominees, but Republicans including Grassley and others oppose this move. Additionally, a federal judge appointed by Obama blocked a Trump administration provision defunding Planned Parenthood, with some media acknowledging the ruling as judicial activism but disputing claims of a judicial coup against Trump. In Virginia, a judge ruled that eight public university board appointees of Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin must step down after their nominations were rejected by the state Senate, a decision Youngkin plans to appeal amid ongoing clashes over political control of educational institutions.