Ed. Note: Dive into this week’s highlights from Howard Bashman’s How Appealing blog, the pioneering platform focused on appellate litigation. Explore these stories and others in full at How Appealing.

Alina Habba’s Extended Role as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey: Originally set to conclude her interim position this week, Alina Habba has been named Acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey by the Trump administration, securing her role as the state's chief law enforcement official for an extended period. This development was covered in depth by Tracey Tully and Jonah E. Bromwich of The New York Times. [Read more here](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/nyregion/alina-habba-desiree-grace-new-jersey-us-attorney.html).

Chief Justice Roberts’ Low Profile Amidst Supreme Court Tensions: The Supreme Court appears increasingly fractured, yet Chief Justice Roberts has not authored any dissenting or concurring opinions throughout the term, a silence that speaks volumes about his strategic positioning within a divided court. A.R. Hoffman of The New York Sun provides insight into this unusual judicial behavior. [Explore the report](https://www.nysun.com/article/chief-justice-roberts-hides-in-plain-sight-as-his-supreme-court-splits-at-the-seams).

Questioning the Supreme Court’s Power Over Trump: Lawrence Lessig, a law professor, pens a compelling Jurisprudence essay pondering whether the Supreme Court possesses the capability to effectively check former President Donald Trump’s actions, given historical and current contexts. This analysis is available on Slate. [Read Lessig’s essay](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/07/can-the-supreme-court-stop-donald-trump-history.html).

Harvard’s Ongoing Legal Struggle Against Trump’s Challenges: Despite presenting a strong case, Harvard University may continue to face legal challenges from Trump, who has hinted at appealing the outcomes. Jess Bravin and Sara Randazzo of The Wall Street Journal delve into the implications of this enduring legal battle. [Find the details here](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/harvard-trump-court-lawsuit-analysis-6022851b?st=7Gh9Hp&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink).

Constitutional Questions in Border Wall Funding Heading to Supreme Court: A significant case concerning the funding of the border wall is poised to test the rarely invoked nondelegation doctrine at the Supreme Court. Taylor Mills of Bloomberg Law explores how recent opinions from the justices hint at their willingness to engage with this issue. [Read Bloomberg Law’s report](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/border-wall-case-may-send-rare-constitutional-test-to-high-court).

Maryland Judges Seek Dismissal of DOJ’s Immigration Suit: In Maryland, a group of judges has requested the dismissal of a Department of Justice lawsuit regarding deportation stays, marking an unprecedented legal challenge. Jacqueline Thomsen of Bloomberg Law covers this development. [Learn more about the case](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/us-judges-in-maryland-seek-dismissal-of-unprecedented-doj-suit).

The David vs. Goliath of Legal Battles Against Trump: As major law firms stepped back under pressure from the White House, solo practitioners and small law offices courageously filled the gap to challenge the Trump administration’s agenda. Elizabeth Williamson of The New York Times highlights these critical efforts in the legal community. [Read the full story](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/us/politics/trump-big-law-firms-fight.html).

Stay updated with these and more intriguing legal developments at How Appealing, a crucial resource for anyone interested in the