Jeff Chiesa's nomination will be debated Thursday, two weeks after Christie announced a senior staff shake-up that would move the nominee from chief counsel.
If approved by the panel, the Senate could vote on Chiesa's nomination Jan. 9, the last day of the legislative session.
The Republican governor has repeatedly clashed with the Democrat-controlled Senate over nominations. Christie's pick for Education commissioner has been stalled for a year, and it took a year for his first Supreme Court pick to be approved.
Meanwhile, an ongoing stalemate over judicial nominees has forced the postponement of some Essex County trials.
Outgoing Attorney General Paula Dow has been nominated to the bench in Essex, subject to confirmation.
