Gov. Phil Murphy is nominating his former chief counsel Matt Platkin to be the state’s next attorney general.
If confirmed, Platkin would replace acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck, who filled the state’s top law enforcement position after Gubir Grewal announced last June that he would head to the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission.
Platkin left his post as the top lawyer in the governor’s office in fall 2020 to join Lowenstein Sandler, a major law firm based in Roseland. That same year, he was named to the No. 1 one spot at the NJBIZ Law Power 50 list.
Looking ahead, the Lowenstein Sandler partner is promising to toughen the state’s enforcement of laws surrounding environmental rights, consumer protections and worker misclassification.
“New Jersey has among the strongest laws … in the country” in those areas, Platkin said during a Feb. 3 morning announcement about his nomination at the Trenton War Memorial Theater in the state capitol.
“We will put these laws to provide relief to our residents, whether they have been victimized by a predatory lender, corporate polluter or an employer unlawfully depriving them of their hard-earned benefits. “
NJ.com reported that Platkin would serve in an acting capacity until confirmed, though Bruck may serve for an indefinite period of time.
Platkin
“As I look toward the upcoming four years and the challenges that lay ahead, I will once again look to the AG to stand up for our New Jersey values,” Murphy said in his prepared remarks Thursday morning. “I know Matt will continue the Attorney General’s office’s strong record of taking on looters, fraudsters and other criminals.”
The office, be it under Platkin or his predecessors, vitally needs a layer of protection that keeps political influence out of its decisions, the governor noted.
“An attorney general is not the governor’s lawyer but the people’s lawyer–an attorney trusted to represent all New Jereyans,” Murphy added.
It is not immediately clear if newly installed Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-22nd District, will allow Platkin’s confirmation to move forward; he and the Senate Democrats Office could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Scutari’s predecessor – Stephen Sweeney – often traded barbs publicly with Platkin.
Platkin said he was nonetheless optimistic about his “consideration” by the state Senate, which would have to approve the nominee. And, several top lawmakers in the Senate Democrats Caucus praised Platkin’s selection in written statements released Thursday morning.
As chief counsel, he played a key role in crafting many of Murphy’s COVID-19 executive orders regarding business closures and mask mandates, and reviewed legislation and other legal issues that came before the governor.
“I particularly think of the early days of the pandemic, as he ably led the counsel’s office in helping us confront the great public health crisis, not only of this century but of the past 100 years,” the governor said.
“[L]iterally every single executive order” that he’s written during his time in office came from Platkin, Murphy said in 2020. “We need this guy.”
On Twitter, fellow Lowenstein Sandler partner and former Gov. Chris Christie’s attorney general Chris Porrino added: “I have had the privilege of calling Matt my friend and partner, and he is a brilliant lawyer and legal strategist. Matt will serve our state well as NJ’s 62nd Attorney General.”
Platkin, aged 35, has been part of the governor’s inner circle for years, with close ties to Murphy going back to his 2017 governor’s race. He was born in Livingston and later raised in Florham Park and Morristown; he is a graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Law School.
He was briefly special counsel for U.S Sen. Cory Booker in 2020 for then-President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
Platkin’s nomination was first reported by New Jersey Globe, a political website run by David Wildstein, who admitted in federal court to his involvement in the 2013 George Washington lane closure political scandal.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:05 a.m. EST on Feb. 3, 2022, to reflect that the governor’s office did not wish to comment. It was updated at 12:25 p.m. EST on Feb 3, 2022, to include additional remarks and information following Matt Platkin’s nomination.
