Middlesex County Swears In Its 1st Latina Prosecutor

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Linda Estremera was ceremonially sworn in as Middlesex County Prosecutor on Friday, becoming the first Hispanic woman to hold the position in the county's history.

Estremera, who was officially sworn in Dec. 31, 2025, succeeds Yolanda Ciccone, the first woman to serve as county prosecutor, who retired at the end of last year. Former Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Estremera in December following Ciccone's retirement.

Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez administered the oath at Middlesex College, where members of the judiciary, elected officials, law enforcement leaders , and community partners gathered for the ceremony.

Estremera has spent more than 25 years in the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, starting as an assistant prosecutor in 2001, handling juvenile matters, major crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault , and narcotics cases. She most recently served as deputy first assistant prosecutor.

"It is a tremendous honor to serve as the first Latina Middlesex County Prosecutor," Estremera said. “I am committed to pursuing justice with compassion and integrity, providing law enforcement with the tools and training they need to keep our residents safe and partnering with our community members to build trust and create a welcoming environment for everyone.”

As prosecutor, Estremera said she plans to prioritize prosecuting violent offenders, expanding victim advocacy and promoting diversity within her office to reflect the county's population.

“For more than 25 years, Prosecutor Linda Estremera has been 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,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “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.”

The ceremony also recognized Ciccone's tenure, during which she launched several initiatives including Blue Cares, a 24/7 drug recovery hotline, and the ARRIVE program, aimed at reducing escalation during crisis response.

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