World News

Biden named first US Muslim woman to sit in federal court | Joe Biden News

[ad_1]

The Muslim group has applauded the “historic appointment” of Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, a Bangladesh-American civil rights lawyer.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been named the first Muslim-American woman to be a judge in a U.S. federal court by the White House on Wednesday, announcing a list of several judicial candidates.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, a Bangladeshi-based civil rights lawyer, would be appearing in a federal district court in New York State.

“The first Bangladesh-American to be the first Muslim-American woman to be a candidate, and only one the second Muslim-American a person to act as a federal judge, “the White House said on Wednesday, referring to Choudhury.

Choudhury is currently the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in the Illinois chapter, a civil rights advocacy group. Previously, he worked for the organization as a deputy director of the ACLU’s New York racial justice program.

He has been involved in many civil rights cases, including federal government litigation Don’t Fly a List and the New York City Police Department Muslim community.

In September 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer formally recommended Choudhury is working for the Federal Bank of New York, saying he is “an expert in civil rights and liberties.”

Muslim Advocates, a Muslim-American advocacy group, asked New York Senator Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to push for Choudhury’s appointment.

On Wednesday, the team thanked Biden and Schumer for “this historic appointment.”

“At a time when inequalities in the justice system are at the center, Choudhury has devoted his career to protecting the civil rights of Muslims and other marginalized communities, pushing for the legitimacy of justice that would lead to justice,” Muslim advocates said. a statement.

“And at a time when hatred and division are driving us away, Choudhury would serve as inspiration as the first Muslim woman, the first Bangladeshi-American, and the second Muslim-American as a federal judge confirmed by the Senate.”

Nusrat Jahan Choudhury is the legal director of the Illinois chapter of the United States Civil Liberties Union. [Courtesy ACLU of Illinois]

The Illinois ACLU also described Choudhury’s appointment as “historic,” but said the organization does not formally accept judicial or political appointments.

“When he was the legal director of Illinois, [Choudhury] among others, he has led our law team in its efforts to improve the Chicago police, prosecuting people arrested for immigration charges in the COVID-19 pandemic, and prosecuting unjust practices that encourage Chicago residents to fail to pay fines and fees. Colleen Connell, executive director of the Illinois ACLU, said in a statement.

U.S. federal courts oversee legal proceedings for federal offenses and civil litigation. They also have the ability judicial review and block states and federal laws that are believed to violate the U.S. Constitution.

All U.S. federal lawsuits begin in district courts and can be appealed in U.S. appellate courts. USA Supreme Court – the country’s highest court – is the third and final level of appeal in the federal judicial system.

The president appoints all federal judges, but candidates must be confirmed by a simple majority in the Senate.

On Wednesday, the White House highlighted the diversity of Biden’s judicial candidates, including Arianna Freeman, the first African-American woman to be the first African-American woman on the Philadelphia Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Confirmed, Choudhury will become the second Muslim federal judge in the U.S. after Senate approved Zahid N Quraishi’s appointment as judge of a New Jersey district court last year.



[ad_2]

Source link

Related Articles

Back to top button