Peter Barnes III was given final approval to become a state Superior Court judge in Middlesex County.
TRENTON -- The New Jersey Senate on Monday confirmed one of its members for a state judgeship, leaving a vacancy not only in that chamber but likely the state Assembly, as well.
The Senate voted 34-0 to give Peter Barnes III final approval to become a state Superior Court judge in Middlesex County -- the county he has represented in the state Legislature for nearly a decade.
Barnes, a 59-year-old Democrat from Edison, has to step down from the Senate to serve on the bench.
Barnes one step closer to becoming a state judge
Now, the Middlesex County Democratic Organization must appoint a replacement.
The group is expected to pick Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, a fellow Democrat who also represents Middlesex County's 18th legislative district.
That would leave a vacancy in the Assembly, as well -- a slot the county Democratic organization would also fill.
NJ Advance Media reported last week that four people have thrown their names into the running. Three are Edison Township Council members: Bob Diehl, Rob Karabinchak, and Sapana Shah. The fourth is Highland Park councilwoman Elsie Foster-Dublin.
Barnes, himself a former Edison councilman, served in the Assembly from 2007 to 2014, when was elected to the Senate.
Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, nominated Barnes to the Superior Court earlier this month.
Barnes was confirmed one day before his 60th birthday, just making the cutoff to ensure he can vest in New Jersey's Judicial Retirement System.
Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey branch of environmental group the Sierra Club, said Barnes will be missed in the Senate.
"The senator has been a strong environmental leader," Tittel said. "The court's gain is the Senate's loss."
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.