Barack Obama has nominated the first American Muslim, Abid Riaz Qureshi, to serve as a federal judge.
The president made this announcement on September 6. If Qureshi is approved by Congress he would be confirmed as a member of the federal bench at the District of Columbia.
He is a partner at the Latham and Watkins law firm, and specializes in litigation which involves health care fraud and security violations, according to a White House press release. Since 2012, Qureshi has served as the Global Chair at the firm's Pro Bono Committee.
"I am confident he will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice," said President Obama.
According to Muslim Advocates, a national advocacy organization, Muslims have earlier been appointed as judges at the state level, but this is the first time a Muslim judge will serve at the federal or appellate level.
"I commend President Obama for taking this important step in continuing to pick the best and brightest from every community to serve as part of our nation's judiciary," said Farhana Khera, former counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and executive director of Muslim Advocates.
Qureshi was born in Pakistan, before his parents moved to the U.S.
He earned his B.A. summa cum laude at Cornell University in 1993, and then went on to receive his Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1997.
He has also been serving on the Legal Ethics Committee at District of Columbia Bar Association since 2015.
"The nomination of Abid Qureshi to fill a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sends a message of inclusion that is welcomed by the American Muslim community and by all Americans who value diversity and mutual respect at a time when some seek division and discord," said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group.
