New Jersey's U.S. District Court judges opted to appoint someone else, but a Justice Department maneuver has kept Alina Habba in the post.

The Trump administration could try to use a workaround to keep Habba effectively in the U.S. Attorney role—but that could present legal challenges.

Ms. Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney was slated to end this week, but the Trump administration’s appointment will allow her to remain the top law enforcement official in the state.