MOUNT HOLLY TWP. -- Scott Coffina, who is Gov. Chris Christie's senior deputy chief counsel, has been named as the governor's candidate to replace Burlington County's current prosecutor.
Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi in this provided file photo.
Christie made the nomination on Monday alongside other appointments and picks for a slew of state boards, commissions and authorities.
Per a biography on the state's website, Coffina earned his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
He also served as an associate counsel to President George W. Bush from May 2007 until January 2009 and was an assistant United States attorney, in Philadelphia, from 1997 to 2001.
Coffina is also an attorney who lives in Evesham, according to the Burlington County Times.
The state Senate must approve of Coffina's nomination, according to the report, which adds that Bernardi's current five-year term ended in Dec. 15, 2016. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office is tasked with investigating crimes and filing charges as a result.
Bernardi has served as Burlington County's prosecutor since 1999, having been appointed by former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. His online biography notes that he was appointed by Christie in 2010 to serve as member of the County Prosecutor's Study Commission.
Coffina was appointed senior deputy chief counsel in late 2015, according to an NJ Spotlight article, which attributes the Burlington County resident as having a strong background in the prosecution of politicians.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.