Jon Allison’s Monday Blog
We have never had a Muslim federal judge in this country. That could change. Last week President Obama nominated Abid Qureshi, a lawyer with the firm Latham & Watkins, LLP, to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Qureshi was born in Pakistan. He graduated from Cornell University in 1993 and from Harvard Law School in 1997. He has spent his entire career with Latham & Watkins and it has been a distinguished career to date. His colleagues describe him as a brilliant lawyer and an exceptional nominee. Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel and current colleague of Qureshi, said “having judges who are reflective of the nation as a whole just brings public confidence into our court system.” Farhana Khera, executive director for Muslim Advocates, a legal advocacy group, said “a judiciary that reflects the rich diversity of our nation helps ensure the fair and just administration of the law, and it is vital for American Muslims to be included.” Muslims have served as judges in state court, but never in federal court. President Obama has made judicial diversity a priority in his administration and has appointed 138 women and 120 minorities to federal judgeships. The Senate now has to decide whether to confirm the nomination.
For more on the nomination follow these links:
- President Obama Nominates Abid Riaz Qureshi to Serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- Abid Qureshi, Nominated By Obama, Would Be First Muslim Federal …
- Obama Nominates First Muslim to Be a Federal Judge
- President Obama picks the first Muslim nominee to be a federal judge …
