Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin has named Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Annette Quijano to serve as the new Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Quijano (D-Union) will head the committee charged with overseeing legislation dealing with civil justice and civil rights, court administration, crime and punishment, juvenile justice, criminal justice and the overall judicial system.
“The Assembly Judiciary Committee considers many weighty matters that have broad-ranging consequences for the people of New Jersey,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “Annette has a keen legal mind and the experience necessary to helm this committee. I have every confidence she will serve us proudly as the new chair.”
Quijano, who is beginning her 11th year in the General Assembly, is a graduate of Rutgers Law School and serves as a municipal prosecutor. She will assume this new role for the 218th legislative session, which officially began on Tuesday. She previously served as Chair of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee, Vice Chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee and as a member of the Appropriations Committee. She also served as Vice Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee from 2010-2013.
“This is a tremendous honor and I thank the Speaker for entrusting me with this assignment,” said Quijano. “The Judiciary Committee performs critical oversight by helping to ensure one of the pillars of our democracy – our judicial system – is functioning properly and both meting out and protecting justice. I look forward to serving in this capacity.”
The first meeting of Quijano’s Judiciary Committee is scheduled for February 1.