Senate Confirms Nusrat Chowdhury as First Muslim Female Federal Judge in U.S. History
After being confirmed in a 50-49 vote on Thursday, civil rights lawyer Nusrat Chowdhury has become the first Muslim female federal judge in U.S. history. Chowdhury will serve in Brooklyn federal court in New York for a lifetime appointment. The confirmation of Chowdhury has drawn praise from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she is the legal director of the ACLU of Illinois. Prior to this post, she served from 2008 to 2020 at the national ACLU office, including seven years as deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program. The ACLU called her a “trailblazing civil rights lawyer” in a tweet.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who recommended her, praised Chowdhury’s appointment as historic. Schumer noted that she makes history as the first Bangladeshi American and the first Muslim American woman to be a federal judge. Schumer said in a statement, “Nusrat Choudhury is a shining example of the American Dream. She is the daughter of immigrant parents, a graduate of Columbia, Princeton, and Yale Law School, and has dedicated her career to making sure all people can have their voices heard in court.”
However, Sen. Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, voted against Chowdhury’s appointment, citing her support for criminal justice reform. He said in a statement that some of her past statements call into question her ability to be unbiased toward members of law enforcement.
Chowdhury has an impressive resume and education background. After completing law school, she clerked in New York City for U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote and 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Barrington Parker Jr. She has served on the Presidential Task Force on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System.
Chowdhury’s appointment is consistent with President Joe Biden’s pledge to emphasize diversity in background, race, and gender in his judicial nominations. Two years ago, the Senate confirmed the nation’s first federal Muslim judge, Zahid Quraishi, to serve as a district court judge in New Jersey. Quraishi’s first day on the job at a New York law firm was Sept. 11, 2001. He would go on to join the Army’s legal arm and served two deployments in Iraq.
Chowdhury’s appointment is a milestone for Muslim women in the U.S. and highlights the importance of diversity in the judiciary. Her appointment will set an example for young Muslim women, encouraging them to pursue careers in law and public service.
Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-06-16 17:37:00
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