The following statements were issued following the announcement that New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum will leave state government on September 10.
FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MATT PLATKIN
“In a short time, Jeremy Feigenbaum has established himself as a member of the truly elite class of lawyers in this country. His skills as an attorney, oral advocate, and strategic thinker are unquestioned. But what stands out most to me is that he built this reputation not in the well-trodden halls of established and white shoe institutions like most of his peers, but by rolling up his sleeves in Trenton and doing what people said could not be done: building what has become arguably the finest legal office in America inside New Jersey State government. His work has been almost too consequential to comprehend and his never-give-up attitude has resulted in landmark victories that have preserved the rights of millions of American-born children, protected communities across this country from the epidemic of gun violence, remediated devastating environmental harms, and upheld our democracy even when doing so was unpopular. This work is not abstract to Jeremy and is most definitely not about wins and losses: he represents the best of our profession and has used his tremendous skill to take appropriate risks with his career in order to serve the public. The best thing I can say about Jeremy is that, while today he has a few more accolades, he remains the same person I met when we were first year law students who told me he just wanted to serve his home state. We are incredibly fortunate that he did and I am personally grateful to have had the chance to serve with him and to call him a friend. I congratulate him on a remarkable run in government service — and I know there is much more to come.”
FORMER CHIEF COUNSEL TO THE GOVERNOR PARIMAL GARG
“When I began law school in the fall of 2011, I instantly became friends with Jeremy Feigenbaum because neither of us could stop talking about New Jersey politics, much to all of our classmates’ dismay. Over the next few years, as Jeremy graduated at the top of his class and secured a clerkship with Justice Kagan, it was obvious that he could go anywhere and do anything. Yet anyone who knew Jeremy knew that all he really wanted to do was work in New Jersey government, and when Governor Murphy was elected in 2017, we eagerly added him to our administration.
As I worked with him for the next 7 years, one thing became clear: the harder the legal problem, the more of Jeremy’s creativity and brilliance emerged. From everything from 3 AM phone calls during COVID-19 to ensure that the Governor’s executive orders could withstand legal scrutiny, to assessing the State’s ability to certify changes in the Apportionment Commission, Jeremy’s counsel was simply indispensable. When I got to see Jeremy argue before the U.S. Supreme Court and persuade the Justices to unanimously allow New Jersey to withdraw from the Waterfront Commission, it was even more obvious that there is no stage too big for his talents. And yet Jeremy always made sure to share the spotlight and allow his colleagues to grow in their own careers. That means that even as Jeremy leaves State government, the office he created will continue to lead the fight to defend America’s constitutional values under the leadership of his extraordinary colleague Sundeep Iyer.
Even in the most stressful times, Jeremy brought an infectious enthusiasm to his work and maintained a genuine belief that the law can be a force for good. It was a joy to work alongside him and to call him a friend, and I wish him and his family all the best in his next chapter in the private sector. Building one of the nation’s best Solicitor General’s Offices from scratch is an achievement of a lifetime, but with Jeremy, I suspect it is only the beginning.”
GOVERNOR MIKIE SHERRILL
“Jeremy Feigenbaum is a true public servant whose tireless work has left an extraordinary mark not only on New Jersey, but also our country. He helped create the Office of the Solicitor General in 2020 and built it from a one-lawyer operation into a formidable 15-attorney team. Through 30 oral arguments, including three before the United States Supreme Court, Jeremey has been a powerful advocate for our state, defending critical priorities like the Gateway Program and standing up to the Trump Administration’s many abuses of power. We are deeply grateful for his exceptional service and unwavering commitment to the Constitution and to people of New Jersey, and we wish him success in his next chapter.”
FORMER GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY
“My administration created the New Jersey Solicitor General’s Office in large part because we were able to entrust it to Jeremy Feigenbaum, one of America’s best appellate lawyers,” said former Governor Phil Murphy. “Over the last six years, Jeremy’s advocacy was integral to many of our achievements, from dissolving the Waterfront Commission to successfully defending our state’s public health policies during a once-in-a-century pandemic. More recently, during the second Trump administration, Jeremy has led the national fight to preserve our civil rights and liberties, most notably by defending birthright citizenship before the U.S. Supreme Court. His intellect, skill, and tireless work ethic have already established a remarkable legacy, and I know there is much more yet to come. Tammy and I wish Jeremy all the best in his next chapter in the private sector, and we are deeply grateful for his service and friendship.”
ATTORNEY GENERAL JENNIFER DAVENPORT
“Anyone who has spent even 30 seconds in Jeremy’s company knows just how wonderful he is.
“Jeremy has established New Jersey as a nationwide leader in litigating some of the most important issues of our time: from protecting billions of dollars in unlawfully withheld federal funds like the Gateway Tunnel Project, to defending New Jersey’s commonsense firearm-safety laws, to taking on the Waterfront Commission, to standing up for birthright citizenship. As New Jersey’s first Solicitor General, he has built our Office of the Solicitor General into a team that is widely recognized as one of the very best in the nation. Needless to say, we will miss him immensely; we are deeply grateful for his service, and I am thankful for every moment we got to work together.”