Gov. Christie asked the state senate in 2013 to appoint Gurbir Grewal to the position, but it was never passed.
Gov. Chris Christie has again nominated Gurbir Grewal to be Bergen County prosecutor.
Christie announced late Monday that he would ask the state Senate to approve Grewal, who has been serving as acting county prosecutor. Christie previously nominated Grewal for the job in 2013, but the Senate did not approve the appointment.
Grewal was appointed acting prosecutor by Christie in January when former County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli retired from the job.
Grewal said in a statement that he was "extremely honored and humbled" to be nominated by Christie.
"I look forward to meeting with the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss my qualifications and my vision for the office," Grewal said in the statement. "If afforded the opportunity, I would continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all those who live and work in the county."
Christie's nomination goes before the state Senate's judiciary committee and, if the committee approves, it will be put up to a vote by the full Senate, said State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who is a member of the judiciary committee. She said she was "looking forward" to having the nomination move before the committee.
"I think he's got an excellent reputation and from a little bit of distance, he seems to have all the qualifications that one would want in a county prosecutor," Weinberg (D-Bergen) said.
Grewal, a Democrat, was the former chief of the Economic Crimes Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey. Grewal, who lives in Glen Rock, became the state's first Sikh county prosecutor and first of South Asian descent when he took the oath as acting prosecutor.
In 2013, Christie praised Grewal's experience as a federal prosecutor and his diverse background.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde. Staff writer Myles Ma contributed to this report.