Judge disqualifies trio of lawyers tapped to lead New Jersey’s federal prosecutor’s office - AP News

AP News
March 9, 2026
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3 min read

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The Bottom Line

A federal judge disqualified three lawyers tapped to lead New Jersey's federal prosecutor's office.

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A federal judge has disqualified three lawyers appointed to lead the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, citing constitutional concerns regarding their appointments. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi found that the appointments by Attorney General Merrick Garland did not adhere to the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This decision leaves the office without a confirmed leader and impacts ongoing federal prosecutions in the state. The Justice Department has indicated it is reviewing the ruling and considering its next steps. This development creates uncertainty for the federal legal landscape in New Jersey.

What's Being Done

The Justice Department is reviewing the ruling and considering next steps regarding the disqualified lawyers.

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