Woodbridge, NJ – Attorney General Matt Platkin’s days in office are numbered, regardless of who wins New Jersey’s upcoming gubernatorial election, as both major party candidates confirmed they would fire the state’s top law enforcement official if elected.
Both Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill told law enforcement leaders they would remove Platkin and install a new attorney general more aligned with police and public safety priorities.
Sherrill made her position clear during a Q&A with union members Friday morning, when asked directly about her timeline for replacing Platkin. “It won’t be Matt Platkin,” she said, drawing applause from the audience. While she didn’t specify any policy reversals, she emphasized that law enforcement would be involved in selecting his successor. “Law enforcement will always have a seat at the table,” she added.
Platkin, appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy, has drawn heavy criticism from police groups over progressive directives, including the controversial Immigrant Trust Directive that limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. Many officers blame Platkin’s policies for rising crime and a strained relationship between prosecutors and police.
Ciattarelli has repeatedly pledged to reverse course, promising to fire Platkin immediately and replace him with what he called a “bonafide chief law enforcement officer.” He has said he would roll back a slate of progressive policies, including bail reform practices and directives that limit police discretion.
While Sherrill has not committed to reversing specific Platkin-era mandates, her decision to publicly distance herself from the attorney general marks a significant departure from the current Democratic administration. Sherrill previously said she would work closely with law enforcement on AG selection and ensure better alignment with police priorities.
The attorney general’s office holds sweeping authority in New Jersey, functioning as both the state’s chief law enforcement agency and its top legal office. Any change in leadership is likely to signal a major shift in how the state handles public safety, criminal justice, immigration enforcement, and oversight of local departments.
Platkin, who has not commented on the candidates’ remarks, has been a key figure in Gov. Murphy’s justice agenda, advancing reforms that include police use-of-force tracking, juvenile justice reform, and limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
With both gubernatorial candidates publicly agreeing that Platkin should go, the attorney general’s position has become a rare point of bipartisan consensus—though the policy directions they’d take from there remain sharply divided.
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Key Points
- Both Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill pledged to remove Attorney General Matt Platkin if elected governor.
- Ciattarelli vowed to reverse Platkin’s progressive policies, including the Immigrant Trust Directive.
- Sherrill did not commit to overturning specific policies but said Platkin would not remain in her administration.
New Jersey’s next governor will fire Matt Platkin—only the policies that follow remain up for debate.
