Alina Habba is an American attorney currently serving as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and as Counselor to President Donald Trump. Born on March 25, 1984, in Summit, New Jersey, she is the daughter of Iraqi immigrants and has two siblings. Habba graduated from Kent Place School in 2002 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lehigh University in 2005. She worked in the fashion industry before pursuing a law degree, which she obtained from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2010.
Professionally, Habba began her legal career as a law clerk to Eugene J. Codey Jr., Presiding Judge of the Civil Superior Court in Essex County, New Jersey, from 2010 to 2011. She then joined Tompkins, McGuire, Wachenfeld & Barry, LLP, as an associate, and later became an equity partner and Managing Partner at Sandelands Eyet LLP. In March 2020, she founded her own firm, Habba, Madaio & Associates LLP, with offices in Bedminster, New Jersey, and New York City.
Habba gained national attention through her legal representation of President Trump. In September 2021, she joined Trump’s legal team, replacing several previous lawyers. She filed a $100 million lawsuit on Trump’s behalf against The New York Times, three reporters, and Trump’s niece, Mary L. Trump, alleging defamation. Although the lawsuit was dismissed, Habba continued to represent Trump in various legal matters, including a countersuit against Summer Zervos, a former contestant on “The Apprentice” who accused Trump of sexual misconduct. Zervos later discontinued the lawsuit.
In December 2024, President Trump appointed Habba as Counselor to the President. On March 24, 2025, he named her as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, succeeding John Giordano, who was nominated for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Namibia. Habba’s appointment has been met with controversy; she faces potential conflicts, particularly regarding ongoing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, as President Trump issued an executive order pausing such cases during a 180-day review period.
In her role as U.S. Attorney, Habba has emphasized the importance of scrutinizing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with high-profile individuals, aiming to protect victims and witness testimony.