TRENTON – New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy has tapped an appointee of outgoing Gov. Chris Christie to be his attorney general.
Gurbir Grewal will be the first Sikh-American to serve as attorney general anywhere in America if confirmed by the state Senate. He’s been the Bergen County prosecutor for the last two years.
Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) issued the following statement on the announcement by Governor-elect Phil Murphy that he will nominate Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal for the position of Attorney General:
“I am thrilled with the selection of Prosecutor Grewal to serve as the state’s next attorney general. He has served Bergen County with distinction and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to upholding the law.
“He also understands that as chief law enforcement officer, he has a responsibility to engage with and respond to concerns in the community and has done so with success. I witnessed firsthand his ability to communicate and connect with high school students on the dangers of the opioid epidemic as well as the dangers of gangs. He handled with great sensitivity the Wyckoff Police Department charges of racial bias and his recent interaction with the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department. I am confident he will be a national leader when it comes to racial justice and equality.”
Murphy noted his pledge to ensure his administration is as diversified as possible.
According to reports, Grewal insists it wasn’t easy to make the decision to take the job, given progress made on a number of fronts in Bergen County. Among the changes he says he’s made are protecting racial and ethnic minorities, providing greater transparency in law enforcement and addressing the opioid epidemic.
This appointment is the first cabinet level hire Murphy has made since last month’s election. He announced earlier that Lt. Governor-elect Sheila Oliver would serve as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
Grewal’s selection is subject to Senate approval.
