Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino today announced that Jeffrey H. Sutherland was formally sworn in this morning as Cape May County Prosecutor.
Governor Chris Christie nominated Sutherland as Cape May County Prosecutor on Nov. 30, and he was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on Dec. 7. Sutherland takes over from Rob Johnson, who was appointed acting prosecutor when Prosecutor Robert Taylor retired in September after 13 years in office.
“Jeff Sutherland has deep roots in Cape May County and a wealth of legal experience, having practiced law there for 27 years and served the community and courts in a number of important volunteer positions,” said Attorney General Porrino.
“Prosecutor Sutherland is eminently qualified to lead the prosecutor’s office, and I’m confident he will do everything in his power to promote the safety and best interests of county residents as their top law enforcement officer.”
“I would like to thank Governor Christie for nominating me on Senator Van Drew's recommendation to become the Cape May County Prosecutor,” said Prosecutor Sutherland. “I look forward to working with the law enforcement community to continue the mission of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office on behalf of the citizens of Cape May County.”
Prior to being nominated as prosecutor, Sutherland was in private law practice for 27 years in South Jersey, leading The Sutherland Law Firm, P.C., in South Seaville and Linwood since 2006. From 1995 to 2006, he was a sole practitioner or founding partner in two other firms based in Linwood. Sutherland has represented municipalities, corporations and utilities, as well as individual clients, and his law practice has encompassed complex litigation and transactions involving estates, real estate, commercial disputes, environmental law, toxic torts, property rights, construction litigation, business sales, contracts, licensing agreements, commercial leases, commercial loans, employment law and personal injury cases. Sutherland also has served as municipal prosecutor for the City of Ventnor.
Sutherland received his Bachelor’s Degree from Bloomsburg University in 1986, and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Widener University School of Law in 1989. He served on the Cape May County Board of Elections since 2013. He also has served as a mediator for Superior Court in Cape May and Atlantic Counties and has served on the District I Fee Arbitration Committee for the New Jersey Supreme Court since 2016.
Sutherland has been a board member for charitable nonprofit organizations and was a member of the Ocean City Historic Preservation Commission from 2009 to 2016.