Who is Desiree Leigh Grace? Alina Habba's replacement as NJ Attorney fired by DOJ

DOJ under AG Pam Bondi fired Desiree Leigh Grace as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, after judges picked her over Trump’s preferred choice, Alina Habba.

Updated on: Jul 23, 2025 4:35 AM IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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The US Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, fired Desiree Leigh Grace, the newly appointed US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, shortly after she was picked by federal judges in the state over President Donald Trump's pick, Alina Habba.

Appointed the US Attorney for the District of New Jersey in March, the federal judges in New Jersey were set to potentially appoint Alina Habba as the NJ US Attorney on a permanent basis. However, they picked Desiree Leigh Grace, instead. But within hours of Grace being picked for the role, Pam Bondi's Justice Department intervened and annulled the appointment.

"This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges -- especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers," AG Bondi said in a statement on her X account.

Who Is Desiree Lee Grace?

Desiree Lee Grace was the First Assistant of Alina Habba when she served as the US Attorney for the District of New Jersey. A veteran in the New Jersey courts, she has been serving as an attorney in the state for over 10 years. She started her career in New Jersey's Supreme Court in September 2012, as a Judicial Clerk in the office of then-Chief Justice, Stuart Rabner, as per her LinkedIn profile.

After a two-year stint at a corporate law firm, she rejoined the New Jersey legal system as Judicial Clerk at the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Trenton, New Jersey. After a year, she started as Assistant US Attorney for Newark in 2016, and over the next nine years, held a number of different roles, including serving as the First Attorney since April 2025.

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Grace was chosen by the federal judges after Alina Habba's 120-term expired, even as she awaits confirmation from the Senate. District judges have the power to name a US Attorney if the Presidential nominee is not vetoed by the Senate within 120 days.

However, the firing by the DOJ now means Grace will not be able to continue as the US Attorney for the District of New Jersey. It is not yet clear if the Trump administration will now seek Senate confirmation for Habba and subsequently reappoint her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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