Mayor Steven M. Fulop Announces Deputy Attorney General as City’s New Corporation Counsel

Peter J. Baker, Deputy Attorney General in the Official Corruption Bureau, to Lead Law Department

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop, today, announced the hiring of Deputy Attorney General, Peter J. Baker, as Jersey City’s Corporation Counsel. As a resident of Jersey City, and a former Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor, Peter Baker brings both statewide experience and local familiarity to one of the City’s most important positions. Baker will replace current Corporation Counsel Jeremy Farrell. who has lead the City’s Law Department since 2013.

“After an aggressive and deliberate search for an experienced and dedicated candidate, I am beyond proud to announce the addition of Peter Baker to our team,” said Mayor Fulop. “As a Deputy Attorney General and former Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor, Peter’s work on high profile cases has exemplified the kind of skill, commitment and ambition that is perfectly aligned with our City and this Administration. I look forward to working with Peter to continuing moving Jersey City forward.”

During his career as Deputy Attorney General, Peter’s role in the Official Corruption Bureau involved prosecuting criminal activity relating to public corruption, engaging in plea negotiations on behalf of State, and directing and participating in investigations with Division and State Police Detectives. In 2016, he received the Attorney General’s Award for “Excellence in Investigations” for investigation in the case of State of New Jersey v. Robert Schroeder.

The Fulop Administration’s efforts to root out public corruption have been well documented. Most recently, Mayor Fulop decided to end the Jersey City Police Department’s off-duty program, which had lead to corruption and misconduct going back several decades.
“The hiring of a member of the Official Corruption Bureau is another step towards eliminating corruption in Jersey City and preserving the public’s trust in our representatives and employees,” said Mayor Fulop.

Peter will begin his service as Corporation Counsel on April 16, 2018.

“I am tremendously honored and humbled by this opportunity,” said Peter Baker. “I am looking forward to serving the people of Jersey City and working on their behalf in my role as Corporation Counsel.”

Current Corporation Counsel Jeremy Farrell will continue to serve residents of Jersey City as the Executive Director of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority.