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Trenton,
NJ – Assistant Attorney General Josh
Lichtblau has been nominated by Governor
Jon S. Corzine to head the Division of Gaming
Enforcement within the Department of Law
& Public Safety.
Lichtblau,
43, is an expert on government contracting
and procurement, supervising attorneys in
the Attorney General’s Office who
represent state agencies and departments
on government contracting, public bidding,
procurement and litigation.
”
Josh’s experience and outstanding
legal ability has prepared him for the job
of leading the Division of Gaming Enforcement,
which is charged with ensuring the integrity
of the casino gaming industry in New Jersey,’’
Milgram said. “The Division is responsible
for protecting the public interest and keeping
the casino industry in New Jersey free from
the influences of organized crime. Josh
brings legal expertise and an exceptional
amount of integrity to this important job.’’
“I
am honored and humbled to be asked to assume
this extremely important regulatory post
in state government,’’ Lichtblau
said. “If confirmed by the Senate,
I will work to ensure that the Division
meets the enforcement challenges that lie
ahead.”
The
Division of Gaming Enforcement enforces
the Casino Control Act and is responsible
for investigating, inspecting, and auditing
the state’s casino gaming licensees.
DGE investigators monitor day to day casino
operations and work closely with New Jersey
State Police and Division of Criminal Justice
attorneys.
The
division’s technical services bureau
assures the integrity of electronic gaming
equipment, including all slot machine operations.
The technical bureau tests and evaluates
electronic equipment and analyzes and verifies
slot machine payouts to casino patrons.
Bureau engineers test all games before they
can be used in the casinos.
Lichtblau
joined the Department of Law & Public
Safety in 1993 as a Deputy Attorney General.
He was named an Assistant Section Chief
in the Treasury Section of the Division
of Law in 2001 and promoted to Deputy Attorney
General in Charge of State Contracting in
2002. He became an Assistant Attorney General
in November 2003.
Lichtblau
has supervised attorneys in the Division
of Law, coordinating contract related matters,
including negotiations and settlements,
and provided legal advice regarding draft
statutes and regulations relating to procurement.
He helped write contract law training materials
that are used in seminars for all newly
hired attorneys and department personnel
who are involved in procurement.
He
graduated with a B.A. from the University
of Pennsylvania in 1986 and a J.D. from
Georgetown University Law Center in 1990.
He clerked for Superior Court Judge Sylvia
Pressler, the presiding judge of the Appellate
Division from September 1990 to September
1991.
If confirmed, Lichtblau will succeed Yvonne
Maher, who has been Acting Division Director
since April, 2007. Maher replaced former
Director Thomas Auriemma, who retired in
March.
Lichtblau’s hearing before the Senate
Judiciary Committee is scheduled for January
3.
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