Michael Noriega, Gov. Phil Murphy’s nominee for an open seat on the New Jersey Supreme Court, sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee today after a controversy-free hearing.
All ten senators present on the committee, including four Republicans, voted in support of Noriega, an attorney and former public defender. Noriega is now set to go before the full Senate this Friday, where he’ll likely be confirmed with few, if any, votes in opposition.
“I know that I am up to the challenge, and prepared to accomplish the work of the court with honor, dignity, and impartiality,” Noriega said in his opening remarks today. “I understand that I will leave behind the practice of the law and take up the important work of the court. I am grateful at the prospect of serving the public once again.”
Murphy announced Noriega’s nomination on May 15, nearly a year after former Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and left the court. (Superior Court Judge Jack Sabatino temporarily filled Albin’s seat for the 2022-23 judicial session.)
Since Murphy’s announcement, Noriega has steadily accrued support from senators, all of whom lauded Noriega’s story as the son of Peruvian immigrants and his experience as a private practice lawyer. Three weeks ago, the New Jersey Globe reported that Noriega had received senatorial courtesy from his three home county senators and the backing of at least 21 of the Senate’s 40 members, essentially guaranteeing his eventual confirmation.
In light of that overwhelming support, today’s Judiciary Committee hearing was more of a formality, filled primarily with compliments and discussions of Noriega’s background rather than hard-hitting judicial questions.
“We have someone before us who is truly selfless,” effused State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), who is Noriega’s law partner. “Someone who cares more about mankind than himself.”
Assuming he’s confirmed on Friday, Noriega will be the third-ever Latino member of the court, which has been without Latino representation since former Justice Faustino Fernandez-Vina turned 70 in February 2022. A Democrat, Noriega is also likely to join the court’s liberal-leaning bloc, just like his predecessor Albin.
But as they do of every Supreme Court nominee, senators asked Noriega to pledge he would not “legislate from the bench” and would issue opinions based on his judicial convictions instead of his personal or political opinions.
“I can draw from my experience in trying to go to every case with an open mind, with the idea of understanding all of the facts and looking at all of the applicable law … before making any specific decisions or allowing my biases, prejudices, or any of my feelings to interfere with my ability to look at a case with as open a mind as possible,” Noriega said.
More than two years ago, then-Justice Jaynee LaVecchia unexpectedly announced she would retire from the court several years early, setting off a complex nomination battle that eventually enveloped three Supreme Court seats. Now, with Noriega likely on his way to the bench, the court may finally enter a period of stability once again.
In a brief statement, Murphy said he was pleased with the result of the Judiciary Committee vote, particularly noting its bipartisan nature.
“I commend the Senate Judiciary Committee for unanimously approving the nomination of Michael Noriega to the New Jersey Supreme Court,” Murphy said. “I am especially pleased that his nomination received bipartisan support and I thank Senate President Nick Scutari and Judiciary Committee Chair Brian Stack for their leadership and partnership. I look forward to Michael’s confirmation by the full Senate.”
