NEWARK-The Latino Action Network (LAN) lauded Governor Murphy’s decision to nominate Fabiana Pierre-Louis to the State Supreme Court.

“We are thrilled Governor Murphy decided to nominate Fabiana Pierre-Louis to the State Supreme Court,” said LAN President Christian Estevez.

Born to parents who immigrated from Haiti, Pierre-Louis is a partner in the firm of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads. For nine years, she served in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. In 2016, she was appointed Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Office, the first woman of color to hold that position.

“Being only 39 years old means that she will likely be on the court for a long time. We are confident that Ms. Pierre-Louis’ personal and professional background has given her empathy for the people we represent and will help her make the right decisions on the court,” Estevez said.

During her time as a federal prosecutor, Pierre-Louis worked on cases involving public corruption, defense contracting fraud, narcotics, child sexual exploitation, and allegations of racial bias by law enforcement.

“This is a big moment for the court as there has not been a Black justice since Governor Christie refused to re-nominate Justice John Wallace in 2010,” said Estevez. “One of LAN’s earliest campaigns was to oppose Christie’s nominations to the court until he restored balance by nominating an African American and a Latino to the bench.”

Wallace is the only justice that has been denied tenure since the state Constitution was adopted in 1947. At the time, he was the court’s only African American Justice, and only the second African American to sit on the court. With the impending retirement of Justice Walter F. Timpone, this is the first real opportunity Murphy has had to make a nomination.