Two Middlesex County Democrats, State Sens. Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield) and Sam Thompson (D-Old Bridge), said today that they’ll support Michael Noriega’s nomination to the New Jersey Supreme Court, giving Noriega 18 of the 21 votes he needs for Senate confirmation.
“100% support,” Diegnan said. “He’s the embodiment of the American Dream… I’m the son of immigrants, he’s the son of immigrants; I’m a state senator, he’s about to be on the Supreme Court. Where else but the United States of America?”
Thompson was more direct. “I’ll be voting for it,” he said.
One of their Republican colleagues, State Sen. Chris Connors (R-Lacey), said he will probably support Noriega’s nomination, but indicated he wouldn’t commit to a yes vote until Noriega comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I anticipate supporting [Noriega],” Connors said. “Everything I’ve heard so far is that the individual is a very good, qualified individual. So I don’t see any problem with the nomination.”
In order to reach the Judiciary Committee in the first place, Noriega, who was nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy last month, needs to get senatorial courtesy from his three home county senators in Union County. Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Linden) and State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) have both granted courtesy, with only State Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union) left to go.
Six of the Judiciary Committee’s 11 members have already committed to vote for Noriega (and at least one other said he is likely to), so that process should present little problem. Finally, Noriega will have to get 21 votes in the full Senate; if confirmed, he’ll succeed former Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin and become the high court’s third-ever Latino member.
RELATED ARTICLES
-
May 15, 2023 -
-
May 23, 2023