Governor Nominates James P. McClain For County Prosecutor

First Assistant Prosecutor James P. McClain was nominated for the position of Atlantic County Prosecutor by Gov. Chris Christie last week, the Governor's Office announced.

McClain would take over for current Prosecutor Ted Housel, whose term comes to an end on June 26. Housel was appointed by then-Governor Jon Corzine on June 27, 2007.

Neither Housel or McClain returned messages seeking comment.

In his current position, which he was appointed to on Oct. 1, 2010, McClain is responsible for various litigation and investigative functions within the office, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's website. McClain oversees the nvestigation and litigation of all cases of official misconduct and public corruption within the office.

He is in charge of legal staff and the hiring, firing, discipline and transfers of assistant prosecutors within the office.

He joined the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Appellate Section after his admission to the New Jersey Bar in 1983. From 1984-86, he was assigned to try cases, and from 1987-92, he was part of the Investigation Division.

He served as Chief Assistant Prosecutor from 1993-2010, where he tried cases that involved public and police corruption, white collar crime, the sexual and physical abuse of children, vehicular homicide and assault, bias crimes and environmental crimes. He argued cases before the Appellate Division, as well as the New Jersey Supreme Court, which recognized him as a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney beginning in 1996.

McClain was one of three nominations made by Gov. Christie for County Prosecutor. The other two included Frederic M. Knapp in Morris County and Joseph D. Coronato in Ocean County.