The nomination of Michael Noriega to the New Jersey Supreme Court passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously Monday, with a full Senate floor vote expected on Friday.

Noriega, nominated to the state's highest court in May, made history as the first former public defender to be nominated to the New Jersey Supreme Court. Gov. Phil Murphy announced the nomination of Noriega to fill the seat vacated by Justice Barry Albin, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 on July 7, 2022.