Federal judges in New Jersey on Monday appointed a new top prosecutor, a move backed by the U.S. Department of Justice that signals a resolution to the dispute over leadership of the state’s U.S. attorney’s office.
In a brief order, the court named Robert Frazer as acting U.S. attorney. Frazer, a longtime prosecutor with more than two decades in the office, most recently served as senior trial counsel handling major organized crime and narcotics cases.
Frazer becomes the fourth individual to lead the office since President Trump returned to the White House, following a series of disputed appointments and removals. A group of Justice Department officials had been overseeing daily operations, but that arrangement was struck down earlier this month.
Matthew Brann ruled the prior leadership structure violated federal appointment laws and warned that any further improper appointments could result in dismissed cases across the state.
Officials said Frazer emerged as a mutually acceptable choice after coordination between the court and the Justice Department, which indicated its support for the selection to stabilize prosecutions moving forward.
