President Trump's bid to keep Alina Habba in charge of the U.S. attorney's office in N.J. faces a new test after a defendant filed a motion challenging her authority.

A lawyer who is working on a criminal lawsuit in New Jersey seeks to dismiss the case by questioning Alina Habba's legitimacy to lead the U.S. attorney's office in the state. Why it matters: The lawsuit challenging Habba's legal authority underscores the effects of the Trump administration's unconventional approach of appointing officials who sometimes lack the background or the congressional support necessary to lead key offices.