well the long run of shake-ups with state supreme court vacancies could finally be over Governor Murphy today made his nomination for the last remaining seat on New Jersey's highest court tapping former public defender and immigrant rights Advocate Michael Noriega to replace retired associate Justice Barry Albin if confirmed the 45-year-old Democrat from Union County would be just the third Hispanic member in the history of the New Jersey Supreme Court senior political correspondent David Cruz reports on the day he was announced as a nominee for the state's highest court Michael Noriega recalled his first day in court as a public defender I argued my first case before the court after a 10-minute conversation with my client he told me that day that the reason that he had violated probation was because his grandmother had died that was also the first time I lost a legal argument on the record in court that day the judge correctly pointed out that this client's same grandmother had died on two previous occasions and he was not accepting this excuse that Real World experience is what made Noriega the kind of nominee that appealed to the Murphy Administration in search of a Latino nominee who more closely reflected the state's diversity and the importance of issues affecting immigrant and working-class people after finding opportunity himself he has dedicated his life to standing up for others not just in his career but in his spare time for seven years he provided pro bono representation to Young victims of human trafficking facing deportation some of them by the way only children and he is currently the board president of sanar Wellness Institute a non-profit in Newark that helps victims of human trafficking domestic abuse and other forms of violence adding someone who has that perspective given the number of uh criminal Colonel matters that come before the court I really can only enhance the the breadth of the perspective that the court has noriega's nomination if approved would bring to court up to a full complement of seven justices Noriega would be Murphy's third pick for a court whose reputation is for balance and collegiality Governor Murphy has made a number of appointments they have all been outstanding in my view so it's a very strong Legacy for the governor and from what I have gathered Governor Murphy has really taken this appointment power so to speak very seriously he's chosen wisely he's been very thoughtful and careful about his nominees and I think that shows in the quality of the folks that he has nominated Murphy also knows a little bit about the consent part of the advise and consent process of judicial nominations a great nominee can be scuttled or held up by senatorial courtesy or even whim Noriega has been a partner in the law firm headed by Senator John bramnik who spoke highly of the nominee at today's event he notes that the Senate Judiciary Committee of which bramnik is a member is chaired by a senator from Union City where Noriega was raised I would think it helps in my understanding that Senator scatteri the Senate President has already given his Blessing to Mike Noriega he's met with him and he told me today that he supports him Senate President probably a pretty good endorsement the one senator who could block the nomination via senatorial courtesy Joe Cryin who represents noriega's current home in Union County could not be reached for comment today and has yet to meet the nominee I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News