Ex-Chief Justices, attorneys general endorse Platkin for AG

In a vast display of support from the state’s legal elite, a group of former Supreme Court Chief Justices and state attorneys general have today endorsed Gov. Phil Murphy’s nomination of Matt Platkin as the next Attorney General of New Jersey.

“Having worked with Matt Platkin over the years, I am confident that he has both the competence and the work ethic to be an outstanding attorney general,” said former Chief Justice James R. Zazzali, who also served as Gov. Brendan Byrne’s attorney general.”

Deborah Poritz, who served as chief justice and as attorney general for Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, said that Murphy “has made a terrific choice in nominating Matt as Attorney General, and a choice I support wholeheartedly.”

Poritz said she and Platkin worked together when she chaired the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission.

“As someone who has had the privilege of working with Matt on many important social justice initiatives … I know from firsthand experience that he embodies the best of the legal profession,” Poritz said, who was chief counsel for Gov. Thomas Kean.  “His impeccable resume is only matched by his integrity, honesty, and character.”

According to Poritz, she’s worked with many prominent attorneys during her career, but very few have been as impressive as Matt Platkin.”

A Republican, former U.S. Senator Jeffrey Chiesa, who served as chief counsel and attorney general under Gov. Chris Christie, said he was certain that Platkin “will lead the attorney general’s office in a way that will continue to advance the quality of life for all of its residents.”

“Matt Platkin is an extraordinarily bright and accomplished attorney who has demonstrated a real commitment to public service and obviously cares deeply about the state and its future,” said Chiesa, who served in the U.S. following the death of Frank Lautenberg in 2013 and until the winner of a special election, Cory Booker, took office five months later.

Christopher Porrino, who also served as Christie’s chief counsel and attorney general, said he first met Platkin after the 2017 gubernatorial election when Platkin was preparing to become Murphy’s chief counsel.

“Since then, I have had the privilege of calling Matt my friend and more recently my Lowenstein Sandler partner,” I have worked as closely with Matt as I have with anyone, and I can say – without reservation — that Matt is an absolutely brilliant lawyer and strategist.”

Platkin also won the backing of another Republican, newly-appointed State Commission of Investigation Commissioner John Lacey, a former federal prosecutor.

“I had the opportunity to work closely with Matt during his tenure as chief counsel to the Governor.  He is a person of great intellect and great character,” Lacey said. “More importantly, he is a person who truly cares about the rule of law, due process and a justice system that is fair to all persons.  He will make an outstanding Attorney General.”

The nomination also won praise by another top New Jersey attorney, Theodore Wells.

“I have worked closely with Matt over the years on multiple projects for Governor Murphy, and he is a brilliant lawyer with a deep commitment to equal justice and issues of diversity, equity and inclusion,” Wells said.  “He will be an outstanding Attorney General, who will achieve great results for the people of New Jersey.”