Jeff Chiesa was recenty sworn in as New Jersey’s new Attorney General. He formerly served as chief counsel and executive assistant to Governor Chris Christie. In discussing his priorities, he said he would not support reinstatement of the death penalty. Chiesa said his opinion on the topic had evolved over the years and he would not support restoring it in the state. New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007, becoming the first state to enact such legislation in more than 40 years.
“You can’t be wrong about it, and as good as our system is, there are going to be times when you are wrong about it,” Chiesa said in regards to risks of capital punishment.
(Associated Press, “New Jersey Attorney General Jeff Chiesa outlines priorities,” Jan. 29, 2012, in N.J. Express Times).
- Death Penalty Information Center (2025, March 14). NEW VOICES: New Jersey Attorney General Does Not Want Death Penalty Back. Retrieved October 3, 2026, from https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-new-jersey-attorney-general-does-not-want-death-penalty-back
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW VOICES: New Jersey Attorney General Does Not Want Death Penalty Back.” Last modified March 14, 2025. Accessed October 3, 2026. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-new-jersey-attorney-general-does-not-want-death-penalty-back.
- Death Penalty Information Center. “NEW VOICES: New Jersey Attorney General Does Not Want Death Penalty Back.” Death Penalty Information Center, 14 Mar. 2025, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-voices-new-jersey-attorney-general-does-not-want-death-penalty-back. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.
