Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest Represents Advocacy Groups on Amicus Brief in Support of New Jersey Attorney General’s Supersession of Paterson Police Department

The Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest is representing the ACLU of New Jersey, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Reimagining Justice, Inc., and Salvation and Social Justice as co-counsel on an amicus brief filed today in in the New Jersey Supreme Court in support of the New Jersey Attorney General's supersession of the Paterson Police Department.

The brief argues that the power of supersession over municipal police departments is inherent in the New Jersey Attorney General's authority as the chief law enforcement officer of the state. It is a necessary tool to promote accountability and to stop abuse by police of vulnerable communities.

Paterson has long endured systemic failures in policing, marked by excessive force and misconduct disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities. Black people comprise 24 percent of Paterson's population but account for 52% of use-of-force incidents. Between 2019 and 2023, Paterson recorded the most police-involved killings in New Jersey. From 2014 to 2018, internal affairs substantiated just 1 out of 183 complaints of excessive force within the Paterson Police Department (PPD), and a 2022 audit revealed that PPD supervisors consistently failed to review use-of-force incidents and lacked a comprehensive de-escalation policy.

Paterson's history of disproportionate enforcement and systemic misconduct demonstrates the urgent need for effective and comprehensive oversight to uphold constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law. Attorney General supersessions of municipal police departments constitute a tool essential to correct these injustices, rebuild public trust, and promote equitable policing for all.

The Lowenstein team includes Alexander Shalom and Parimal Garg.

About the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest
From its founding, Lowenstein Sandler has been committed to advancing the public interest and serving communities in need. The Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest embodies this commitment, directing the firm's strong pro bono program and other forms of civic and philanthropic engagement. Through these efforts, the center addresses significant social problems and offers meaningful assistance to low-income and other marginalized people, along with the organizations that advocate for and support them. This work engages the full range of the firm's talents and reflects the core values that imbue all of the firm's efforts: to perform work of the highest quality in a manner that maximizes results for our clients and causes.