Title: First Assistant Prosecutor
Company: Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office
Location: Ewing, New Jersey, United States
Jennifer Downing-Mathis, Esq., First Assistant Prosecutor at Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in criminal justice.
With many years of experience to her credit, Ms. Downing-Mathis has excelled as the first assistant prosecutor for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office since 2023 as well as an attorney and assistant prosecutor for the State of New Jersey since 1998. During this time, she additionally served with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office as a deputy first assistant prosecutor between 2016 to 2023, the chief assistant prosecutor for the special victims unit, the chief of the Megan’s Law unit, a senior assistant prosecutor and a supervising senior assistant prosecutor. Ms. Downing-Mathis began her career as a law clerk for the Honorable Paulette Sapp-Peterson.
Before embarking on her professional path, Ms. Downing-Mathis pursued an education at Rider University, from which she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in Spanish, cum laude, in 1994. She concluded her studies at the Widener University School of Law in 1997, graduating with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Admitted to practice law by the New Jersey State Bar Association soon thereafter, Ms. Downing-Mathis subsequently obtained her certifications as a child forensic interviewer by Finding Words/Child First NJ in 2008 and as a legal instructor by the New Jersey Police Training Commission in 2018.
Beyond her primary responsibilities, Ms. Downing-Mathis has participated in numerous endeavors outside of her immediate circles. She has notably contributed as a member of the Commission on Racial Equity in the Law, the chairperson of the Mercer County Commission on Abused, Neglected and Missing Children, a member of the Stigma-Free Mercer Taskforce, the past co-chair of the Mercer Vicinage Superior Court Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and a volunteer for various community initiatives. A proud lecturer and youth mentor, she has likewise found success as an instructor and teaching staff faculty member for the National Association of Attorneys General and a faculty member for the Attorney General Advocacy Institute for New Jersey. Moreover, Ms. Downing-Mathis has been active as a donor for such veteran organizations as the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans Of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
In light of her impressive undertakings, Ms. Downing-Mathis has accrued several accolades throughout her career. She has been the recipient of the 2007 President’s Award from the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, the 2014 Cherish the Children Professional Recognition Award and the 2016 Certificate of Achievement from the New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement, Inc. Ms. Downing-Mathis was further inducted to the New Jersey Women’s Hall of Fame by YWCA Trenton in 2015 and honored by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office in 2016 and 2017.
Ms. Downing-Mathis attributes her wealth of success to her upbringing, as her parents instilled in her the confidence, strong work ethic and integrity she needed to thrive in the field of law. Among the many highlights of her career, she is incredibly proud of obtaining a conviction in a highly emotional child sexual abuse case. She is also grateful for the opportunity to mentor her fellow attorneys within her law office. In the coming years, Ms. Downing-Mathis hopes to continue advancing in her career while entertaining other potential endeavors, such as teaching in higher education.
For more information, please visit:
Worldwide Humanitarian
ABWL-NJ.org
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