U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann held that Habba’s term as the interim U.S. attorney ended in July, and the Trump administration’s “novel series of legal and personnel moves” to keep her in the role without getting confirmation from the U.S. Senate didn’t follow procedures required by federal law.

A U.S. judge on Thursday ruled that Alina Habba, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, was unlawfully appointed as the acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey and is therefore ineligible to participate in any ongoing cases.