Since leaving the New Jersey State Senate in 2017, I really haven’t paid too much attention to politics in the Garden State, but Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill’s recent nomination of Jennifer Davenport for the next Attorney General really caught my eye. My first introduction to law was when I served as a legal clerk for the Attorney General from 1988 to 1989. It was under the leadership of W. Cary Edwards that I really saw first-hand what leadership was all about. Over the years, that office has seen some really terrific leaders and I would argue that Former Attorneys General John Farmer and Peter Harvey have set the gold standard. I predict that Jennifer Davenport will join those two at the top of this distinguished list of leaders.
My partner, Tom Scrivo, first introduced me to Jennifer Davenport last year when she served as one of our featured speakers for Seton Hall’s Denis F. McLaughlin Advanced Trial Advocacy Workshop. Tom had worked with Jennifer in her past professional capacities and was a huge supporter of hers. As matter of fact, it was Tom who recruited Jennfier to become one of the distinguished speakers at this nationally recognized program at Seton Hall, which was underwritten and sponsored by our law firm, O’Toole Scrivo, LLC.
At Tom’s suggestion, Jennifer joined such luminaries as Federal District Judges Brian Martinotti and Michael Farbiaz, Third Circuit Judge Paul Matey, Colgate Assistant General Counsel Betsey Fishbone, legal expert Karol Corbin Walker and some well-respected state judges. I recall seeing Jennifer address the law school students and I was in awe as we witnessed the active and lively interaction between the parties. Not always easy, she clearly had command of the room.
When it comes to listening and watching public officials, I can tell you that this thing called authenticity is the one difference maker that separates the proverbial wheat from the chaff, and let me tell you that Jennifer Davenport is 100% Jersey authentic – she can capture the spirit of any audience.
I asked former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Craig Carpenito, who worked with Jennifer during her tenures at US Attorneys’ Office and DEA, why are so many former colleagues speaking (on and off the record) so glowingly and positively about their time with Jennifer Davenport? Craig took a one second pause and then said, “it is all in her incredible work ethic and her professional dedication, she values consensus. Jennifer is authentic and real.” Wow!
I recently had an opportunity to have a conversation with Jennifer, here is what she had to say:
Why do you want to become the State’s next Attorney General?
I have dedicated my professional life to public service and public safety, and there is no better role in which to work with law enforcement to protect New Jerseyans than as New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer. The Attorney General plays a central role on everything from combatting gun trafficking and human trafficking to protecting our kids to ensuring affordability to protecting New Jerseyans when our rights are under attack, and I cannot think of a more meaningful public service opportunity. I especially hope that my relationships with both law enforcement and the community we serve, and my own experiences bringing people together to solve hard public safety problems, will allow me to use this extraordinary opportunity to make the State even safer. I am so grateful to Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill for trusting me to be New Jersey’s top law enforcement official at such an important time for our State.
What in your life has prepared you for this next step?
Though no one can ever be perfectly prepared to take on this awesome responsibility, I think my long career in public service and law enforcement have prepared me to take on this role as best as possible. I started my career in public service and law enforcement, working as an intelligence analyst for the DEA. But I knew that law would give me even greater opportunities to serve my community, so I went to law school at night, even while continuing as an analyst. I later worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the highlight of serving as Chief of the General Crimes Unit, teaching new prosecutors how to partner with law enforcement and community leaders to protect the public. I later returned as Counsel for DEA. Then, eight years ago, I was proud to serve New Jerseyans as the First Assistant Attorney General, where I worked alongside law enforcement officers, police unions, and community leaders to keep the New Jerseyans safe and make sure that justice was served equally and fairly across the state. Across my 15 years of experience alongside law enforcement, the most important preparation I have gained for the Attorney General role has been my particular experience working with the communities we serve to ensure our residents felt safe and supported and that everyone had a seat at the table. Together, we were able to make our streets safer and tackle real issues to deliver for New Jersey.
Who are your role models?
I have been shaped by role models in my family who showed me what service, sacrifice, and love really mean. My grandfather came to live in this country from Brazil at just 14 years old, with a third-grade education, without his parents or siblings, and worked his entire life to support his family, both here and back home. Years later, during a summer job in my teens, my boss compared my work ethic to his, which remains one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.
My dad, a Vietnam veteran and a career firefighter, modeled what it means to live a life of public service. He’s even dedicated his retirement to finding ways to honor and help other veterans. He’s always reminding me to “lighten up” and take each step in stride.
And my mom modeled a quieter but equally powerful kind of strength. She was always there for me, from the big things to the more routine like helping me with homework, driving me to dance, softball practice, you name it. Only later did I fully understand that her choices may have meant setting aside parts of her own identity, a sacrifice I appreciate more with time.
Together, my parents’ unwavering support, first for me and now for my daughters, has shown me what love, commitment, and service look like across generations.
What advice do you have for others who want to pursue similar legal roles?
Take every opportunity you have to serve the public, whether as an analyst or as a prosecutor or in a role tailored to your own interests, and never shy away from jumping into the daunting and challenging opportunities, like when I decided to serve as First Assistant. Work collaboratively with your amazing colleagues, who are also motivated by this shared love of public service, and with the community you serve. And never take for granted the enormous power and responsibility that comes with these roles. You owe it to the public and to the many people who will hold those jobs after you to treat people with respect and compassion.
You have an incredible amount of experience in various law enforcement organizations, including the United States Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. Do you think those experiences have helped shape your priorities?
Absolutely. As a career prosecutor working alongside law enforcement, my priorities have been shaped by the many roles I’ve held over the years—particularly my public safety priorities, from protecting New Jerseyans from gun violence to taking on human trafficking to addressing harms to our kids. Those experiences not only shaped my own priorities, but they taught me an important lesson about how to achieve them: prosecuting cases alone is not how we fully protect the public. Real public safety also means investing in services, especially mental health and victim support so we can prevent harm before it happens and address the root causes of crime.
I was fortunate to speak to several of your former colleagues about your accomplishments at these agencies. How is it possible that I haven’t found one person to say something negative about working with you?
That is truly kind of you to say, but the truth is that I have been incredibly lucky in my life to have such wonderful colleagues in every role I have held. It’s easy to grow close to my colleagues, and to work so collaboratively with them, when you value and respect them so deeply, and when you all share a deep commitment to the work you do together. I put a premium on being a team player, being true to who I am, and not taking myself too seriously.
Of course, my former colleagues will be the first to tell you that we won’t agree on everything all the time. It’s not about seeing things the same way, and it’s better when we have our own different perspectives based on our own different experiences. It’s about listening, finding common ground, and figuring out what’s best for those we serve.
On a lighter note, what are your hobbies and favorite local sports teams?
I grew up in Cape May County and I live in Monmouth County, so you already know what I am going to say: going to the beach. I also love planning trips, playing tennis, all things theater, watching my daughters play soccer, and laughing with my friends and family. Let’s Go Mets!
