Gov. Phil Murphy announced this week that an independent review of New Jersey's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will be conducted by a legal team from Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads in conjunction with the management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group.

According to an announcement issued by the governor's office Monday, the review will include New Jersey's readiness in early 2020 and how the state responded to challenges that have emerged over the course of the last three years. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to commission such a review on the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the biggest challenges our state—and nation—has ever faced," said Murphy. "Throughout the pandemic, my responsibility as governor demanded that I make every decision based on the available data, facts, and science in order to preserve the health and safety of all 9.3 million residents, regardless of the politics.

"My responsibility as governor also demands a full and comprehensive review of how the state was prepared for and responded to the pandemic, so that we can take the steps to better prepare future administrations for a public health crisis," stated Murphy.

The Montgomery McCracken team will be led by Paul Zoubek, partner and co-chair of the firm's white-collar and government investigations practice group. Zoubek served as first assistant attorney general during Gov. Christie Whitman and Gov. Donald DiFrancesco's administrations and as the No. 2 official in the Department of Law and Public Safety during the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. His experience includes a number of high-profile state government investigations including, most recently, a review of the state police's boxing program.

"While COVID-19 is still present in our state, nation, and world, we have moved from the pandemic to the endemic phase, and now is the right time to undertake such an independent review," said Murphy. "As a widely respected, apolitical, and experienced state and federal prosecutor, Paul Zoubek is exactly the right person to lead this review, and has the experience in emergency management and government investigations that makes him perfectly suited for this task. I am grateful to him, the rest of the team at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, and the Boston Consulting Group for agreeing to take on this important project."

Boston Consulting Group is a global management consulting firm with expertise advising companies and governments on organizational structure.

Included in the review of New Jersey's response to the pandemic will be emergency policy decisions, pandemic response concerning vulnerable residents including those in congregate care, and the state's efforts to continue its core functions. Public health management will be  reviewed including COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, personal protective equipment procurement and distribution, and coordination of the health care system and of health information.

The report is expected to be released in late 2023 and aims to recommend enhancements and reforms to better prepare New Jersey for the next public health crisis.