Robert Frazer Appointed U.S. Attorney for Latest Jersey, Resolving Dispute
A veteran federal prosecutor, Robert Frazer, was appointed as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey on Monday, March 24, 2026, ending a dispute between the judiciary and President Donald Trump over control of the office. The appointment follows a series of disqualifications of the administration’s previous picks for the position .
Judicial Order and Department of Justice Statement
A U.S. District Court judge issued a one-sentence order naming Frazer as the top federal prosecutor in the state, resulting from an agreement between federal judges and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Department of Justice stated, “The Department of Justice thanks the district court for working with the Department to appoint Robert Frazer to serve as US Attorney so that once again criminal prosecutions can resume without needless challenge or delay on behalf of the people of New Jersey” .
Background of the Dispute
Earlier in March 2026, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann disqualified three Justice Department officials who were sharing authority over the office, citing an illegal power grab by the Trump administration. These officials had replaced Trump’s initial choice for U.S. Attorney, Alina Habba, who was barred from the job due to exceeding the time allowed without Senate confirmation .
The disqualified officials – Philip Lamparello, Jordan Fox, and Ari Fontecchio – were appointed indefinitely by Attorney General Pam Bondi in an unusual move. During a court hearing, another federal judge in New Jersey demanded the three officials answer questions under oath and dismissed a government official due to the Justice Department’s chaotic oversight of federal prosecutions in the state.
Reactions and Previous Appointments
Alina Habba, now a senior adviser at the Justice Department, congratulated Frazer on his appointment via social media, stating New Jersey deserves a chief federal law enforcement official aligned with President Trump’s agenda of national safety .
Robert Frazer, previously serving as senior trial counsel in the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s office, did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
Broader Pattern of Judicial Challenges
The dispute in New Jersey is part of a broader pattern of challenges to the Trump administration’s appointments of U.S. Attorneys. Judges have ruled against the legality of appointments in Nevada, Los Angeles, and northern New York. Lindsey Halligan, former acting U.S. Attorney in Virginia, left her position after a judge deemed her appointment unlawful and ordered the dismissal of indictments she brought against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.
In some cases, judges have appointed U.S. Attorneys to oversee prosecutor offices until a presidential nominee receives Senate confirmation, but the Justice Department has subsequently fired those judicial appointees.