The New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate was a department within the Executive Branch of the New Jersey state government that acted as a voice on behalf of the people of the state. It was responsible to make government "more accountable and responsive to the needs of New Jersey residents" through legal advocacy, policy research and reform and community and legislative outreach.
The department was originally created in 1974 (NJ P.L. 1974, c. 27Department of Public Advocate--establishes, New Jersey State Library) by Governor Brendan Byrne. The first Public Advocate was Stanley Van Ness. Wilfredo Caraballo served as Public Advocate from 1990 to 1992, resigning in protest of Republican Party efforts in the legislature to reduce his powers.Gray, Jerry. " Public Advocate Quits in Trenton Over Cutbacks", The New York Times, July 2, 1992. Accessed June 20, 2008. "Public Advocate Wilfredo Caraballo announced his resignation today, saying that Republican budget cuts had weakened the effectiveness of his office, which is the voice of citizens with complaints about government.... Mr. Florio appointed Mr. Caraballo to the posts of Public Advocate and Public Defender in early 1990, recruiting him from Seton Hall Law School, where he was dean."
The agency was dissolved in 1994 (NJ P.L. 1994, c. 58Public Advocate Restructuring Act, New Jersey State Library), ending the tenure of Zulima Farber under Governor James Florio. The New Jersey Legislature passed the Public Advocate Restoration Act (NJ P.L. 2005, c. 155) in 2005, which was signed into law on July 12, 2005, by Governor Richard Codey.Restores Department of the Public Advocate as principal department in Executive Branch. **, New Jersey State Library
In 2006, Governor Jon Corzine appointed Ronald Chen to serve as the first Public Advocate since the position had been abolished in 1994.Chan, Sewell. "Metro Briefing", The New York Times, January 6, 2006. Accessed June 20, 2008. "Governor-elect Jon S. Corzine nominated Ronald Chen yesterday to serve as public advocate and Lisa Jackson to head the Department of Environmental Protection." Upon entering office as governor in early 2010, Republican Chris Christie began plotting the elimination of this department. On June 29, 2010, Governor Christie signed into law NJ P.L. 2010, c. 34,Abolishes the Department of the Public Advocate and transfers certain functions, powers and duties, New Jersey State Library which abolished the Department of the Public Advocate, transferring some offices and divisions to other departments, and abolishing others.N.J. Stat. Ann. § 52:27EE-86 (Rutgers 2010)
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