A New Jersey state senate committee unanimously approved Governor Phil Murphy's nominee to the state supreme court. If confirmed by the full senate, Fabiana Pierre-Louis would become the state's first Black female associate justice — and the only sitting Black member of the high court. 

Pierre-Louis, 39, is the daughter of Haitian immigrants, and during her early legal career clerked for former Justice John Wallace Jr., who was the last Black justice to serve on the court.

"I had the invaluable experience of being exposed to the work of the court early on in my career," she told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, calling Wallace a "lifelong mentor." 

"I am also proud to have the support to sit in the same seat that he once occupied," she added.

Pierre-Louis would be the youngest justice on the high court and would replace Justice Walter Timpone, who must retire by law when he turns 70 later this year. Pierre-Louis worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office across the Trenton, Camden and Newark offices and later worked as a white collar criminal defense attorney in private practice.

"I come from humble beginnings and that has enabled me to stay humble throughout my life," she said. "My parents were not attorneys. My mother worked at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan in patient transport and my father owned his own New York City taxi cab."

During the hearing, lawmakers said Pierre Louis represents a new generation of leaders, who can bring a different set of experiences to the court.

"I am very proud to be able to vote yes for a new generation, for a new balance on the Supreme Court of the state of New Jersey and for someone who has very varied experiences that you do both in the law and as a daughter, bringing your unique experience of your family," Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said. 

Sen. Michael Doherty, R-Warren, questioned Pierre-Louis' decision to wear an orange ribbon when Gov. Murphy announced her nomination earlier this summer. He said the ribbon is promoted by a nonprofit that on its website advocates for candidates and policies that support common sense gun safety (the nonprofit Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety was started by the father of one of the victims of the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018). Doherty —who ultimately voted to confirm Pierre-Louis — asked her if she would recuse herself from weighing in on gun control issues since she had appeared to take a side. 

Pierre-Louis said she was not aware the ribbon was connected to the specific group and said she was not trying to take a side but was handed the ribbon to wear for gun violence awareness day. 

The full Senate will vote on her confirmation on Thursday.