Acting AG could soon be confirmed by Democrats in the Legislature
TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie's pick for the state's top law enforcement post took the reins as acting attorney general Tuesday while he awaits confirmation from the state Senate.
Christopher Porrino, the governor's former chief counsel, took the oath of office at a private ceremony at the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
In a statement, Porrino said he was "deeply honored and humbled" by the appointment.
He was sworn in by his predecessor, Robert Lougy, who served for just three months as acting attorney general after John Hoffman left to take a job at Rutgers University.
Lougy has been nominated for a judgeship in state Superior Court but will stay on as an assistant attorney general to aid Porrino in the transition, a spokesman for the office said.
As attorney general, Porrino said he plans to continue the work started by Hoffman and Lougy, "including anti-crime programs, consumer protection initiatives, and efforts to address opiate and heroin abuse, while identifying and meeting the public safety and litigation challenges of tomorrow."
Porrino, 48, previously served as director of the Division of Law within the Attorney General's Office. He served under Christie as chief counsel from January 2014 through July 2015, when he returned to private practice as a partner at Lowenstein Sandler, one of the state's largest law firms.
New Jersey hasn't had a confirmed attorney general since Jeffrey Chiesa left the post in 2013 to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Porrino's appointment will have to be approved by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
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