The New Jersey state Senate voted Monday to confirm Sherwin G. Campbell to the state Superior Court, filling the spot left vacant following the retirement of longtime Ocean County judge Marlene Lynch Ford earlier this year.

Campbell, the former chief judge of the East Orange Municipal Court and a partner with McDonald & Campbell law firm, was one 11 new Superior Court judges approved by the Senate Monday afternoon.

With today’s 11 confirmations, the number of vacancies in the state dropped to 56, down from the high of 75 statewide vacancies reached last year, which led the suspension of certain trials in several counties.

In a statement, Governor Phil Murphy thanked the Senate for confirming the judges and noted that today’s batch were a majority women and people of color.

“For the past six years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to ensuring vacancies in our courts are filled by highly qualified individuals who have demonstrated an unwavering devotion to justice, integrity, and the rule of law,” Murphy said.

“I am especially proud that my Administration has worked closely with the Senate to increase the diversity of our judges, ensuring that the bench looks more like the people of our state. Today’s slate of 11 new judges, both majority women and majority candidates of color, will undoubtedly make significant contributions to our state’s judiciary,” he added.

Ford, a former Democratic assemblywoman and Prosecutor, now serves as of Counsel at the law firm Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.

Campbell earned his law degree at Touro College Jacob B. Fuchsberg Law Center.