As he prepares to step down, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin defended his record on police reform, gun violence, lawsuits against the Trump administration and taking on powerful political and corporate interests.

Platkin is leaving after four years in office, closing a chapter that reshaped the role of the state’s top law enforcement official and sparked fierce debate across the political spectrum.

A close ally of Gov. Phil Murphy and the youngest person to serve as the governor’s chief counsel before becoming attorney general, Platkin emerged as a national figure by leading high-profile lawsuits against the Trump administration while simultaneously pursuing sweeping changes to policing, gun policy and corporate accountability in New Jersey.

Supporters describe his tenure as transformative. Critics, including some law enforcement unions and political power brokers, call it overly aggressive and politically charged. Platkin, however, says controversy was never the goal.

“When I had the great privilege of being appointed to this position, I said from day one that I was going to pursue justice,” Platkin said in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “Every decision I made was based on what the law said and what I thought was right for the people of New Jersey.”

Unlike many states where attorneys general are elected, New Jersey’s is appointed, a structure designed to ensure independence from political pressure. Platkin said he took that responsibility seriously, even when it put him at odds with powerful interests.

“This office was meant to be independent, the people’s lawyer,” he said. “Whether it’s corporations harming kids, corrupt officials betraying the public trust, or anyone else breaking the law, our job is to stand up for the 9.5 million people who live here.”

Taking on Trump

Platkin became one of the most prominent Democratic attorneys general to challenge President Donald Trump, leading or joining multiple multistate lawsuits. Critics argued that the focus on Washington distracted from problems at home, an assertion Platkin rejects.

“We haven’t been distracted,” he said, pointing to record-low gun violence, major environmental and health care settlements, and new public safety initiatives. “You are safer in New Jersey today than you’ve ever been.”

Platkin said the lawsuits were necessary to protect New Jersey residents from unlawful federal actions, including attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship, cut social services, restrict health care and fire federal law enforcement officers.

“My job is to protect people who live here from anyone who breaks the law even if that person is the president of the United States,” he said.

Addressing gun violence

Gun violence reduction was a defining priority of Platkin’s tenure. He framed the issue as a public health crisis and pushed for a data-driven approach that targeted the drivers of violence while investing heavily in community-based intervention programs.

Under his leadership, New Jersey reported three consecutive years of record-low gun violence, with shootings dropping below 600 statewide after never previously falling under 1,000.

Platkin also created a first-in-the-nation office focused on holding bad actors in the firearms industry accountable, filing more lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers than any other state.

At the same time, his office pursued police accountability reforms, including the expansion of the Arrive Together. The program pairs law enforcement officers with mental health professionals on crisis calls.

Since its launch, the program has responded to roughly 15,000 incidents statewide with zero injuries, Platkin said.

“We’ve asked law enforcement to do too much for too long,” he said. “This gives them the right partners and tools, and it’s saving lives.”

Platkin’s relationship with law enforcement was not without friction. State police unions sued his office, and some lawmakers floated proposals to remove the State Police from the attorney general’s oversight.

Platkin said he leaves with strong relationships intact and deep respect for officers across the state.

“Oversight is part of the job,” he said. “Trust in law enforcement depends on accountability. Without that trust, people won’t call for help.”

Lawsuits against social media, tech giants

Perhaps the most politically charged case of Platkin’s tenure was the prosecution of South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross and his allies, a case later dismissed by the courts. Platkin said he does not regret bringing it.

“We treat everybody the same,” he said. “If career prosecutors and investigators determine the law was broken, we act. Corruption is not a victimless crime we all pay the price.”

Platkin also made New Jersey a leader in lawsuits against major technology companies, targeting social media platforms and online services he says knowingly harmed children.

Under his leadership, the state led or joined cases against Meta, TikTok and Discord, arguing the companies misled the public about risks to young users.

“This is the single biggest challenge facing the next generation,” Platkin said. “Technology shouldn’t get a free pass to harm kids.”

Though speculation has swirled about his political future, Platkin says he has no immediate plans to run for office.

“I did this job because I thought it was the right thing to do,” he said. “I didn’t start caring about these issues when I took office, and I’m not going to stop now.”

Platkin says he plans to remain in New Jersey and stay engaged in public service in some form.

“I love this state,” he said. “Serving as attorney general has been the greatest privilege of my life.”