Fabian Pierre-Louis is first African American Woman to be Nominated to NJ Supreme Court - NJ Law Journal

Fabian Pierre-Louis is first African American Woman to be Nominated to NJ Supreme Court - NJ Law Journal

Fabiana Pierre-Louis, a thirty-nine year old honors graduate of Rutgers Camden Law School is Gov. Phil Murphy’s pick to fill the state Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Walter Timpone later this year, easily wins people over, works very hard, is deliberate in her thoughts, and has flawlessly balanced being a high-powered attorney and a mother of two young sons, according to colleagues, former supervisors, lawmakers and members of the governor’s office who made her nomination official recently.

“Her credentials speak for themselves,” Matt Platkin, chief counsel to Murphy and considered the architect of Pierre-Louis’ nomination, said in a phone interview on Monday. “She clerked for Justice [John] Wallace, she handled difficult cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she’s a partner at Montgomery McCracken. She is clearly a talented attorney.”

“Everyone spoke of her abilities,” added Platkin. “But another thing that came through was how kind she is, and that her humanity is in every aspect of her work, and that she clearly carries with her the perspective of her own past, which could influence her as a justice, and … it will benefit ultimately the court and the people of this state.”

“New Jersey is lucky to have a number of qualified candidates who were given very serious consideration, which they should for this process,” Platkin said. “Fabiana just ultimately stood out.”

Pierre-Louis is currently a partner at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads in Cherry Hill, in the firm’s white-collar and government investigations practice group.

Her nomination is being vetted by the New Jersey State Bar Association, and from there, she must go before the 40-member Senate for confirmation.

Another senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the nomination process, said the Murphy administration is hoping Pierre-Louis’ confirmation is finalized this summer, giving Pierre-Louis time to finish her business at Montgomery McCracken and be in place for the new Supreme Court calendar year that begins on Sept. 1. Her ultimate Senate confirmation date lies with Senate President Steven Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, whose 11-member committee will vote on the nomination before going to the full Senate for a floor vote.