After a brief conference Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Kiel put Giraud Jr.'s trial date on hold while the motion moves through the courts. Because the federal bench in New Jersey played a role in replacing Habba, the issue was referred to Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

In a span of eight days, Alina Habba was accused of violating the Hatch Act; removed as interim U.S. attorney by district court judges and replaced with a career prosecutor who was quickly fired by the Trump administration; and then named acting U.S. attorney.