Michael Noriega

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Michael Noriega
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
Assumed office
July 6, 2023
Preceded byBarry T. Albin
Personal details
Born (1978-03-27) March 27, 1978 (age 46)[1]
Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationRutgers University (BA)
Seton Hall University (JD)

Michael Noriega (born March 27, 1978) is an American lawyer from New Jersey who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey since 2023.

Early life and education[edit]

Noriega is the son of Peruvian immigrants, born in Weehawken, New Jersey and he grew up in Union City.[2][3] He graduated from St. Peter's Preparatory School in 1995,[4] received a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in 1999 with a major in American studies[4][5] and received a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2002.[6]

Career[edit]

Noriega worked as an assistant deputy public defender in Essex County for five years, leaving in 2008.[3] Noriega practiced immigration and criminal law for six years while he ran his own law firm, Noriega & Associates in Newark. He provided pro bono counsel to the organization Kids in Need of Defense, representing indigent, underage clients who have been subject to human trafficking and are facing removal proceedings.[7] He is formerly a partner at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold, and Mangan in Scotch Plains,[4] where he specialized in immigration and criminal law.[8] He was an adjunct professor at the Seton Hall School of Law for eight years.[9] As of 2023, Noriega was an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and served as chair of the Immigration Law Section.[3]

Supreme Court of New Jersey[edit]

On May 15, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy announced his intent to nominate Noriega to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. He would fill the vacancy left by the mandatory retirement of Justice Barry T. Albin, who retired on July 6, 2022.[4][5] Since Albin's retirement, the seat had been temporarily filled by New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division judge Jack M. Sabatino. In June 2023, it was reported Noriega had acquired enough votes to be confirmed, with 19 senators stating their intent to vote in favor of his confirmation.[10] On June 26, 2023, a hearing was held on his nomination.[11] Later that day, his nomination was advanced out of the judiciary committee.[12] He was confirmed on June 30, 2023 by a 37–0 vote.[13][14] He was sworn into office on July 6, 2023.[15] He is the first public defender to ever serve on the Supreme Court.[2] He is the third Hispanic on the New Jersey Supreme Court and the first since Justice Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina retired.[5] Following Noriega's confirmation, Sabatino returned to the Appellate Division.

Personal life[edit]

Noriega is a Democrat.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Justices Biographies".
  2. ^ a b Solomon, Nancy (May 15, 2023). "Gov. Murphy's pick for NJ Supreme Court is former public defender Michael Noriega". Gothamist. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Sobko, Katie (May 15, 2023). "This is Gov. Phil Murphy's next pick for the NJ Supreme Court". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Governor Murphy Announces Intention to Nominate Michael Noriega to Serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court" (Press release). Office of the Governor. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Fox, Joey (May 15, 2023). "Noriega formally unveiled as Murphy's Supreme Court pick". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  6. ^ "Michael Noriega Profile | Newark, NJ Lawyer | Martindale.com". www.martindale.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Governor Phil Murphy Announces His Nomination of Michael Noriega as NJ Supreme Court Judge". www.wbjb.org. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Wildstein, David (May 13, 2023). "Michael Noriega is Murphy's pick for N.J. Supreme Court". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Cangialosi III, Charlie; Mooney, John (May 15, 2023). "Fanwood Resident Michael Noriega Nominated for NJ Supreme Court by Governor Phil Murphy". Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  10. ^ Wildstein, David (June 3, 2023). "Noriega has the votes to win Senate confirmation to Supreme Court". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Biryukov, Nikita (June 26, 2023). "N.J. Supreme Court hopeful wins unanimous approval from judicial panel". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "Senate Judiciary Committee Affirms Noriega". Insider NJ. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  13. ^ Fox, Joey (June 30, 2023). "Michael Noriega confirmed by Senate, becoming first public defender on Supreme Court". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  14. ^ Johnson, Brent (June 30, 2023). "Murphy's latest pick to serve on N.J. Supreme Court just got confirmed, making history". nj.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Phil Murphy [@GovMurphy] (July 7, 2023). "Today I had the honor of seeing Michael Noriega sworn in as the newest Associate Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court. Michael, your father would be so proud of you. We know you will serve with distinction for years to come" (Tweet). Retrieved August 10, 2023 – via Twitter.


Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
2023–present 		Incumbent
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