Estremera sworn in as Middlesex County prosecutor

The basics:

• Linda Estremera officially sworn in as Middlesex County prosecutor — first Hispanic woman in the position
• Served previously as deputy first assistant prosecutor, joined the office in 2011
• Plans to focus on violent crime prosecution, community outreach, victim advocacy, diversity in law enforcement
• Ceremonial swearing-in also recognized service of outgoing Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone

With her recent swearing-in, Linda Estremera is officially the first Hispanic woman to serve as Middlesex County prosecutor.

Yolanda Ciccone announced in December 2025 she would retire from the post at the end of the year.

Then-Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Estremera as the county’s next prosecutor, with the state Senate confirming her soon after.

Following a brief tenure with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Estremera began her career with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in 2011. As part of her position as an assistant prosecutor, she handled a wide range of criminal cases, including juvenile matters, major crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, child endangerment and narcotics.

Her performance and leadership over the years have resulted in numerous promotions to supervisory and executive positions. She most recently served as deputy first assistant prosecutor, the county said.

As prosecutor, Estremera plans to prioritize prosecuting violent offenders, expanding community outreach and victim advocacy, and promoting diversity within her office and local law enforcement to reflect Middlesex County’s diverse population, according to the prosecutor’s office.

‘A dedicated and trusted member’

“It is a tremendous honor to serve as the first Latina Middlesex County Prosecutor,” Estremera said, commenting on her new role.

“As an Assistant Prosecutor in this very office for over 25 years, I understand firsthand the deep responsibility we hold to victims, families, and our entire community.”

After her Dec. 31, 2025, swearing-in, the board of county commissioners recently celebrated Estremera, as well. The Feb. 20 ceremonial event brought together members of the judiciary, elected officials, law enforcement leaders, community partners, colleagues, friends and family. County Commissioner Director Ronald Rios praised Estremera as a “dedicated and trusted member of the Prosecutor’s Office – and more recently, a key leader in our County’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and advance harm-reduction strategies.”

“Her experience, integrity, and steady leadership make her exceptionally well prepared to guide this office forward. We are confident that under her direction, the Prosecutor’s Office will continue to innovate, strengthen community trust, and ensure fairness and accountability in every case,” he said.

County Commissioner Deputy Director Shanti Narra added, “Prosecutor Estremera understands that public safety and public health are deeply interconnected. She has been instrumental in advancing collaborative strategies that address substance use, mental health, and violence prevention in our youth while upholding the rule of law. Her leadership will continue to deepen partnerships between law enforcement and the communities we serve.”

Ciccone: Middlesex County’s 1st woman prosecutor

The recent event also recognized the service of Ciccone.

She held distinction as the first woman to serve as Middlesex County prosecutor. During her tenure, Ciccone guided the office through some of the most challenging periods in recent history. She also launched initiatives with lasting impact.

In 2020, she convened a Youth Mental Health Conference. The event brought together educators, law enforcement and health professionals to address pandemic-related challenges. Ciccone later expanded that work through a Behavioral Health Roundtable focused on opioid addiction and mental health services, the county said.

Ciccone also initiated a series of school shooting case studies. The effort aimed to train multi-jurisdictional school leaders, law enforcement, security personnel and emergency coordinators.

Under her leadership, the office introduced 24/7 drug recovery hotline Blue Cares and championed programs to improve crisis response and protect vulnerable populations. Examples of the latter include Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE), the Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities registry and the Safe Place program to combat bias crimes, the county said.