Prominent lawyers known for their LGBTQ activism and other advocates for gay rights—several of whom have broken barriers themselves—are lauding the appointment of Andrew Bruck as the first openly gay acting attorney general of New Jersey by Gov. Phil Murphy.

They say Bruck’s experiences as a husband and father, as well as his impressive pedigree and knowledge of the law, make him an ideal fit at a time when the courts, and the state Attorney General’s Office in particular, are dealing with myriad issues facing the LGBTQ community— from hate crimes and parental rights to employment and transgender matters.