ACTL Statement on Incident at Office of Acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA (November 14, 2025) — The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) is alarmed by reports of a man bringing a baseball bat to the Newark office of the acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey, Alina Habba. The same suspect later ransacked Ms. Habba’s office and is now being sought by authorities.

For over 75 years, the College has counted among its core tenets our responsibility to support and strengthen the independence of America’s judicial system. There is no threat to that constitutional principle more insidious than the specter of violence.

Although the details surrounding this particular incident have not been fully revealed, ACTL maintains that violence directed towards members of the judicial system have no place in our society and should be universally condemned.

Such actions undermine the public’s trust in the rule of law, risk provoking further violence against judges and other members of the judicial system and threaten the independence of the judiciary because of their intimidating nature.

Acknowledging that decisions from courts and those involved in the judicial system like Ms. Haba may incite strong reactions, the College will continue to champion the right to engage in political speech, to disagree with judicial rulings, and to challenge those judgments for their conclusions, soundness, and potential consequences.

But all of us, regardless of political orientation, should recognize that respect for the judicial system and the safety of its participants remain essential to protecting our democracy and the rule of law. The College extends its sympathies to Ms. Habba and her colleagues in Newark, and we hope for a swift and just resolution to this matter.

Read the full statement here