In a loss for the Trump administration, an appeals court on Monday upheld a lower court ruling disqualifying Alina Habba from her position as acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey.

In a 32-page ruling, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals found that Habba's appointment violates the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

Judge Michael Fisher wrote for the three-judge panel, "It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place," saying that the steps it took to install Habba run afoul of the law.

The decision stems from motions from three criminal defendants who argued that President Donald Trump’s appointment of Habba, who had been overseeing their case, was unlawful, and that she should be d

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