Mercer County Prosecutor Announces Retirement After 27 Years in the Job

Mercer County District Attorney Angelo Onofri announced Wednesday his retirement from a position he held for more than 27 years.

Onofri told his staff on Wednesday that he would retire on Aug. 1. He informed the governor of his decision by letter on Monday.

“I’ve had a great career over the last 27 years,” Onofri told NJ Advance Media in a phone call Wednesday night. “I couldn’t have asked for a better staff in the district attorney’s office than we have in Mercer County.”

Onofri joined the office in May 1998 and served in several roles before former U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. named him first assistant in 2012.

He was appointed interim prosecutor in March 2015 after Bocchini retired. Gov. Chris Christie appointed him to the position later that year, and he was officially sworn in as the county’s top law enforcement officer in January 2016 at a ceremony at his alma mater, Steinert High School in Hamilton.

Prosecutors serve five-year terms and are appointed by the governor. Onofri has held the position since early 2021. Gov. Phil Murphy’s office has not made any statement about who might succeed Onofri.

Jennifer Downing-Mathis currently serves as Onofri’s first assistant district attorney.

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You can contact Kevin Shea at [email protected]