Critics criticized former Attorney General (and former Associate Justice) Peter G. Verniero for complicity in condoning the practice of racial profiling  during the Governor Christie Todd Whitman years.

The New York Times wrote about it in 2000.

[Then] Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey, said that Justice Verniero does need to answer questions about his handling of the troopers’ indictments. He said he would ask Justice Verniero in a letter to respond before any official formal inquiry begins, and added: ”His being nominated really was unfortunate. I’m still surprised that the nomination was made in the midst of everything that was going on with racial profiling.”

In 2001 Verniero came under attack for statements he made to the New Jersey Senate during his 1999 Senate confirmation hearings regarding allegations of racial profiling by the New Jersey State Police.

Senators complained that he was not completely forthcoming during his tenure as attorney general, an accusation he strongly denied.

Verniero resigned from the court at the end of 2004.