Desiree Leigh Grace, who was recently appointed as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has been dismissed by the Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi—just hours after federal judges selected her over Donald Trump’s preferred nominee, Alina Habba.
Grace was appointed earlier this year by a panel of federal judges after Habba’s temporary 120-day term expired. The judges chose Grace for the permanent position, but their decision was swiftly overturned by Bondi’s Justice Department, which voided the appointment.
“This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges — especially when they threaten the President’s core Article II powers,” Bondi stated in a post on X.
Who Is Desiree Leigh Grace?
Desiree Leigh Grace previously served as First Assistant under Alina Habba during Habba’s tenure as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. A seasoned legal professional, Grace has over a decade of experience in the New Jersey legal system.
She began her legal career in September 2012 as a Judicial Clerk for Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court. After working briefly at a corporate law firm, she clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Trenton. In 2016, she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, eventually rising to the role of First Assistant in April 2025.
Federal judges stepped in to appoint Grace following the expiration of Habba’s temporary term, as permitted by law when the Senate does not act within 120 days on a presidential nomination. Grace’s appointment was made pending Senate confirmation.
Now that the DOJ has dismissed her, it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will formally nominate Alina Habba again and seek Senate approval to reinstate her as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.
