U.S. District Judge Jose Linares is preparing to become chief judge for the District of New Jersey on June 1, following a move to senior status for the current chief judge, Jerome Simandle.

Linares, 63, is set to take over at a time when New Jersey’s federal courts are coping with a heavy caseload and a shortage of judges. Born in Cuba, he becomes the first Hispanic chief judge in the District of New Jersey.