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New Jersey

NJ Gov. Murphy nominates immigration lawyer for state Supreme Court seat

If confirmed, Michael Noriega will be the first public defender to sit on the Garden State's high court

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  • Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated Michael Noriega, a 45-year-old immigration lawyer and public defender from Fanwood, for a seat on the state's Supreme Court.
  • If confirmed, Noriega will officially succeed retired Justice Barry Albin, whose seat has been temporarily filled by Appellate Court Judge Jack Sabatino since July.
  • Republican State Sen. Jon Bramnick, a partner at Noriega's law firm, praised him as "an attorney of immense integrity."

Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated Michael Noriega to be the next justice on the state Supreme Court, who if confirmed would be the first former public defender to sit on New Jersey's top court.

Noriega, 45, of Fanwood, is a longtime immigration lawyer and criminal defense attorney. He would replace Barry Albin, who retired last July after 19 years on the bench. Since that time, Appellate Court Judge Jack Sabatino has been temporarily filling that seat.

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The Democratic governor announced his choice Monday. The nomination will first be considered by the state Senate Judiciary Committee and, if they approve, the full senate would then hold a confirmation vote.

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy speaking

Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated immigration lawyer and public defender Michael Noriega for a seat on the state Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Noriega is a partner with the Scotch Plains-based law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold and Mangan. The firm's principals include state Sen. Jon Bramnick, a Republican from Union County who called Noriega "an attorney of immense integrity."

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The son of Peruvian immigrants, Noriega was born in Weehawken and was raised in Union City. He graduated from Rutgers University and received his law degree from Seton Hall, where he has also served as an adjunct law professor. He was an assistant deputy public defender in Essex County from 2003 to 2008.

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Noriega and his wife, Melissa, a school psychologist, are the parents of four daughters.

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