TRENTON, N.J. — A federal judge sharply criticized the U.S. Department of Justice’s handling of prosecutions in New Jersey on Monday, removing a government attorney from a courtroom proceeding and demanding sworn testimony from the three officials currently overseeing the state’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi expressed frustration over what he described as disorganized leadership and legal uncertainty within the office. His remarks followed a recent ruling by another federal judge, Matthew Brann, who determined that the Trump administration’s decision to replace interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba with a three-person leadership team may violate the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which requires Senate confirmation for such roles.
Despite that ruling, the trio—Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox, and Ari Fontecchio—has continued to lead the office while the decision is under appeal.
During Monday’s hearing, Quraishi pressed Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenblum about who is truly directing the office and whether Habba, now a senior adviser at the Justice Department, still exerts influence. Habba has publicly denied any involvement.
Tensions escalated when Rosenblum’s supervisor attempted to intervene. The judge accused the attorney of attempting to disrupt proceedings and ordered him out of the courtroom, warning that security would remove him if necessary.
The confrontation unfolded as Quraishi prepared to sentence a defendant in a child exploitation case. However, he postponed sentencing, citing concerns about the integrity of the investigation and the prosecution’s decision to finalize a plea deal before the FBI completed its forensic review of electronic evidence.
Calling the case mishandled, Quraishi said prosecutors had locked themselves into a lenient plea agreement even after additional illegal material was later discovered—evidence that could not be included due to the binding agreement.
“You have lost the confidence of this Court,” Quraishi told Rosenblum during the tense exchange, adding that trust in the office had also eroded among legal professionals and the public.
The judge ordered Lamparello, Fox, and Fontecchio—referred to in court as a “triumvirate”—to appear in court on May 4 to clarify the office’s leadership structure. He warned that if their testimony fails to resolve his concerns, he may also require appearances from Habba and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
While Judge Brann temporarily paused his earlier ruling to allow for appeal, he cautioned that maintaining the current leadership arrangement carries legal risk. Quraishi echoed that warning in court, signaling that further scrutiny is imminent.
The Justice Department pushed back on the judge’s criticism. Spokesman Chad Gilmartin suggested that some members of the judiciary are prioritizing courtroom dramatics over public safety, calling the situation “troubling,” particularly given the nature of the criminal case involved.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between the judiciary and federal prosecutors in New Jersey, raising broader questions about constitutional authority, leadership legitimacy, and the administration of justice.
