The attorney general of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state and oversees the Department of Law and Public Safety. The office is appointed by the governor of New Jersey, confirmed by the New Jersey Senate, and term limited. Under the provisions of the New Jersey State Constitution, the Attorney General serves a concurrent term to the governor (starting on the third Tuesday of January following the election and ending on the third Tuesday following the next election). Matt Platkin became the acting officeholder on February 14, 2022, following his nomination by Governor Phil Murphy.

The conventional wisdom is that the attorney general cannot be removed from office except "for cause" by the governor or by way of legislative impeachment.Letter from OLS Deputy Counsel Danielle A. Brucchieri to Senate Republican Office, Office of Legislative Services, May 9, 2005. Accessed December 2, 2008.

It is fourth in the line of succession after the lieutenant governor of New Jersey, president of the New Jersey Senate, and speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly. The attorney general cannot also serve as the lieutenant governor.

List of office holders Holders of the office of attorney general include:Past Attorneys General, New Jersey Attorney General. Accessed December 15, 2007.

Colonial period Term of office Attorney General Notes and references1704–1714 Alexander Griffith Alexander Griffith was the first Colonial New Jersey Attorney General.1714–1719Thomas Burnett Gordon (17 April 1652April 28, 1722) was a Scottish emigrant to the Thirteen Colonies who became Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court and New Jersey Attorney General for the Province of New Jersey.1719–1723 Jeremiah Basse (died 1725) was a governor of both West Jersey and East Jersey. He became governor of West Jersey in 1697, and became governor of East Jersey in 1697.1723–1728 James Alexander(May 27, 1691 – April 2, 1756) was a lawyer and statesman in colonial New York. He served in the Colonial Assembly and as attorney general of the colony in 1721–23. His son William was later a major general in the Continental Army during the American revolution. Alexandria Township, New Jersey was named after James Alexander.1728–1733 Lawrence Smyth1733–1754 Joseph Warrell1754–1776 Cortlandt Skinner(December 16, 1727 – March 15, 1799) was the last colonial attorney general of New Jersey and a brigadier general in the British Loyalist force, the New Jersey Volunteers during the American Revolutionary War.

Post-independence #PictureAttorney GeneralTerm in officeParty affiliationAppointed by1William PatersonWilliam Paterson, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 1, 2006.(1745–1806)1776–1783Federalist Elected by the legislature 2Joseph Bloomfield (1753–1823)1783–1792 Anti-Administration Elected by the legislature3Aaron WoodruffPolitical Graveyard: Aaron Dickinson Woodruff, accessed August 27, 2006.1792–1811Federalist Elected by the legislature4Andrew S. Hunter1811Democratic-Republican Elected by the legislature5Aaron Woodruff1812–June 26, 1817Federalist Elected by the legislature6Theodore FrelinghuysenNovember 1, 1817–March 4, 1829Federalist Elected by the legislature7Samuel L. SouthardSamuel Lewis Southard, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 1, 2006.1829–1833National Republican Elected by the legislature8John Moore White1833–1838 Elected by the legislature9Richard Stockton FieldRichard Stockton Field, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 25, 2007.1838–1841Republican Elected by the legislature10George P. Mollesson1841–1844 Elected by the legislature11Richard P. Thompson1844–1845Daniel Haines12Abraham Browning1845–1850Democratic13Lucius ElmerLucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 20, 2007.1850–1852Democratic14Richard P. Thompson1852–1857George Franklin Fort15William L. DaytonWilliam L. Dayton, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed November 11, 2006.1857–1861RepublicanWilliam A. Newell16Frederick Theodore FrelinghuysenFrederick Theodore Frelinghuysen, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 1, 2006.1861–1867RepublicanCharles Smith Olden17George M. RobesonGeorge Maxwell Robeson, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 1, 2006.1867–1870RepublicanMarcus Lawrence Ward18Robert Gilchrist Jr.1870–1875DemocraticTheodore Fitz Randolph19Joel ParkerNew Jersey State Library biography for Joel Parker, New Jersey State Library. Accessed July 11, 2007.1875DemocraticJoseph D. Bedle20Jacob Vanatta1875–187721John P. StocktonJohn Potter Stockton, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 1, 2006.April 8, 1877–April 5, 1897Democratic22Samuel H. GreyNew Jersey: State Attorneys General, The Political Graveyard. Accessed April 24, 2007.1897–1902John W. Griggs23Thomas N. McCarter1902–1903RepublicanFranklin Murphy24Robert H. McCarter1903–1908Republican25Edmund Wilson Sr.1908–1914RepublicanJohn Franklin Fort26John Wesley Wescott1914–1919DemocraticJames F. Fielder27Thomas F. McCran1919–1924RepublicanWalter Evans Edge28Edward L. Katzenbach1924–1929George S. Silzer29William A. Stevens1929–1934Morgan F. Larson30David T. Wilentz1934–1944DemocraticA. Harry Moore31Walter D. Van Riper1944–1948RepublicanWalter Evans Edge32Theodore D. ParsonsFebruary 4, 1948–1954Alfred E. Driscoll33Grover C. Richman Jr.1954–1958Robert B. Meyner34David D. Furman1958–196235Arthur J. SillsJanuary 6, 1962–1970Richard J. Hughes36George Francis Kugler Jr.1970–1974William T. Cahill37William F. Hyland1974–1978DemocraticBrendan Byrne38John J. DegnanJanuary 17, 1978–March 5, 1981Democratic39James R. Zazzali1981–1982Democratic40Irwin I. KimmelmanJanuary 19, 1982–January 21, 1986RepublicanThomas Kean41W. Cary EdwardsJanuary 21, 1986–January 19, 1989Republican42Peter N. Perretti Jr.February 14, 1989–January 16, 199043Robert Del TufoJanuary 16, 1990–August 24, 1994DemocraticJim Florio44Deborah PortizJanuary 18, 1994–July 10, 1996RepublicanChristine Todd Whitman45Peter VernieroJuly 10, 1996–May 15, 1999Republican46 John Farmer Jr.June 3, 1999–January 15, 2002Republican47David SamsonJanuary 15, 2002–February 15, 2003Jim McGreevey48Peter C. HarveyFebruary 15, 2003–January 30, 2006Democratic49Zulima FarberJanuary 30, 2006–August 31, 2006DemocraticJon CorzineActingAnne Milgram"Hello to a new day", The Star-Ledger, June 22, 2007. Accessed July 11, 2007.August 31, 2006–September 26, 2006Democratic50Stuart RabnerSeptember 26, 2006–June 29, 2007Democratic51Anne MilgramJune 29, 2007–January 18, 2010Democratic52Paula DowJanuary 18, 2010–January 10, 2012DemocraticChris Christie53Jeffrey S. ChiesaJanuary 10, 2012–June 6, 2013RepublicanActingJohn Jay HoffmanJune 10, 2013–March 14, 2016RepublicanActingRobert LougyMarch 14, 2016–June 21, 201654Christopher PorrinoJune 21, 2016–January 16, 2018Independent55Gurbir GrewalJanuary 16, 2018–July 19, 2021DemocraticPhil MurphyActingAndrew BruckJuly 19, 2021–February 14, 2022DemocraticActingMatt PlatkinFebruary 14, 2022–September 29, 2022Democratic56September 29, 2022–January 20, 2026ActingJennifer DavenportJanuary 20, 2026–February 24, 2026DemocraticMikie Sherrill57February 24, 2026–present

References

External links New Jersey Attorney General official website New Jersey Attorney General articles at ABA Journal News and Commentary at FindLaw New Jersey Revised Statutes at Law.Justia.com U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of New Jersey" at FindLaw New Jersey State Bar Association New Jersey Attorney General John Jay Hoffman profile at National Association of Attorneys General Press releases at New Jersey Attorney General