Skip to main content

Civil Division

The Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey represents the United States in a broad array of defensive and affirmative civil lawsuits arising primarily in the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of New Jersey, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the New Jersey Courts. The Civil Division, which has personnel in all three of the District’s offices, consists of Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are assigned to General Litigation and Environmental Justice.

General Litigation

The majority of the division's Assistant U.S. Attorneys are assigned to the General Litigation team. This team principally defends the United States in employment discrimination and sexual harassment actions, along with vehicular, medical malpractice and other personal injury matters brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act. These attorneys also are responsible for cases in a variety of disciplines, including Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, Administrative Procedures Act, immigration, constitutional torts, Social Security, subpoena enforcement, constitutional law, prisoners' rights, civil rights, defense of government employees in criminal or quasi-criminal cases brought in state court, condemnation, bankruptcy and government contracts.

Environmental Justice

Environmental and health hazards often have a disproportionately high and adverse impact on disadvantaged communities.  The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to securing justice for individuals and communities through the vigorous enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws and remedying wrongs caused by environmental violations. Consistent with the Department of Justice’s environmental justice emphasis, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has established an Environmental Justice Team within its Civil Division to protect disparately burdened residents in New Jersey from environmental harms.

Updated October 10, 2023