CHANDIGARH: A turban wearing Sikh-American lawyer has been nominated as the next Attorney-General of the American state of
New Jersey
. A child of immigrants from India, Grewal grew up in Bergen and Essex counties of New Jersey.
Gurbir S Grewal, a public prosecutor who earlier served as an assistant US attorney in
New York
and New Jersey, was nominated for the prestigious post by New Jersey governor-elect
Phil Murphy
on Tuesday.
Grewal will serve as chief law enforcement officer and a key partner to the New Jersey governor in upholding constitutional and civil rights and ensuring equal protection under the law in the state where a Sikh was recently elected as a mayor of a city. In November, Ravi Bhalla had to face fliers depicting him as a terrorist before he was elected mayor of Hoboken in New Jersey, making him the second Sikh mayor of a major American city.
Reacting to his nomination, Grewal said he became a prosecutor to give back to a country that has given and his family so much. "I wanted to perhaps also show people that while I and others like me may look different or worship differently that we too are committed to this country. As someone who has experienced hate and intolerance first-hand throughout my life, I wanted to work to ensure that we all live in a fair and just society," Grewal said after the announcement, wbgo.org reported.
Grewal obtained his law degree from the College of
William
& Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1999.
He prosecuted major white collar crimes, cyber crimes, cases of securities fraud, and Ponzi schemes during his previous stint in New Jersey. Before that, he prosecuted white collar crimes, narcotics offenses, and terrorism cases for the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Grewal, who has spent most of his legal career in public service, is currently the
Bergen County
prosecutor. Working for a most populous county in New Jersey, Grewal serves a community of almost one million with his staff of 265.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.
Start a Conversation
Post comment