Biglaw, Law Schools, Politics

Did You Know A Former Biglaw Partner Is Running For Governor Today?

Arguably, running New Jersey is a step down from being in Biglaw.

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New Jersey Gubernatorial candidate Jim Johnson.

New Jersey Gubernatorial candidate Jim Johnson.

It’s primary day in New Jersey for the race to replace Chris Christie. Christie has been reduced to “Trump Gimp” status thanks to scandal and Trump-induced humiliation, but Governor of New Jersey is still a position of national significance. The state might be solidly “blue” in national elections, but statewide it can be friendly to what’s left of the “educated” wing of the Republican party

On the Republican side, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno holds a sizable lead over State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. Guadagno is a former AUSA for the Eastern District of New York, then she moved to the District of New Jersey. She’s also a former Assistant New Jersey Attorney General, and she served as the Monmouth County sheriff.

Prosecutorial experience is nice, if you like that kind of thing. The Democrats are countering with that private practice, though.

The Democratic front-runner is Philip Murphy. He’s a multimillionaire former Goldman Sachs executive. Because really, when Democrats are trying to tap into the grassroots, anti-Trump fervor, running a millionaire banker is totally the right call. What could possibly go wrong! It’s not like the last Goldman-to-Governor Democrat, Jon Corzine, is now known for epic failure at MF Global. (Please, just f**king shoot me).

Among his numerous opponents is Jim Johnson. Johnson is a former partner at Debevoise and Plimpton. (Disclosure: Yes, I met Jim Johnson while I was an associate at Debevoise. When you are a young black lawyer, you meet the black partner(s) at your firm. But I couldn’t get Donald Trump a meeting with Johnson, we don’t all hang out.)

In addition to his private-practice experience, Johnson is also a former AUSA for the Southern District. Johnson was a Treasury prosecutor in the Clinton administration, and notably led the Brennan Center for Justice from 2004 to 2011.

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He’ll probably get creamed because Goldman money >>> Debevoise money. But if you are looking for a Democrat with a strong record on criminal justice reform, Johnson is probably your guy.

If you live in New Jersey, please try to vote today, preferably for somebody who won’t use traffic patterns to enact vengeance upon his or her political enemies. That’s really not too much to ask for, New Jersey.

Your final primary guide in the race to succeed Christie as N.J. governor [NJ.com]

Elie Mystal is an editor of Above the Law and the Legal Editor for More Perfect. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at elie@abovethelaw.com. He will resist.

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