Fishman recommended for U.S. attorney in N.J.

New Jersey's U.S. senators yesterday recommended Paul J. Fishman, an expert in white-collar crime, for the post of U.S. attorney.

Fishman, 51, of Montclair, spent a combined 14 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Justice Department, prosecuting white-collar, firearms, narcotics, and gang cases.

In a statement, he said: "Public service is a privilege, and I am committed to guiding the office with fairness, impartiality, and the highest level of integrity."

Democratic U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez jointly signed a letter of recommendation to President Obama.

Noting Fishman's public service - as well as private-practice experience from his current job as a partner in the New York law firm of Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman L.L.P. - they said: "That combination of experience, together with his strong intellect and unquestioned integrity, make him a superb choice to lead that office."

The next step for Fishman is to be vetted and nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Generally, presidents support the recommendations of senators from their own party.

Fishman would replace Christopher J. Christie, now a Republican candidate for governor.

Fishman started in the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1983 and rose through the ranks to become first assistant. He left New Jersey in 1994 for the Justice Department in Washington, where he became the principal associate deputy attorney general.

Lautenberg, who has a long friendship with Fishman, said he would be "a terrific U.S. attorney. He has the knowledge, expertise and judgment to protect the people of New Jersey."

Menendez said he was confident that Fishman would work effectively to protect New Jersey residents "from economic crimes, the spreading gang activity, as well as gun and drug trafficking."

Born in River Edge, Bergen County, Fishman graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, returning to Harvard to teach trial advocacy.

Private clients have included Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money, and Carla Katz, former state workers' union leader and Gov. Corzine's former girlfriend.

Fishman is a member of several professional organizations and a board member at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center.

He is married and has two children.