By: Ayesha Aslam-Mir
(Al-talib) In the first year of his term, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate 11 federal judicial candidates. The administration’s recent appointments and nominations, including the selection of Black and South Asian Madam Vice President Kamala Harris, are revered as monuments toward a more diverse government.
Other historic picks include Rep. Deb Haaland for Department of the Interior as the first Native American Cabinet secretary, and Army Gen. Lloyd Austin for the Department of Defense as the first Black defense secretary.
Further diversity in faith has raised the praise of Muslims nationwide with the appointment of a Muslim American Circuit court judge–Judge Zahid N. Quraishi.
If confirmed, Judge Zahid N. Quraishi will be the first Muslim American Federal judge. Quraishi, an appointed magistrate judge in the District of New Jersey, is a Rutgers Law Alumni of Pakistani descent.
Quraishi’s work with the U.S. government dates back to when he served in the Army as a military prosecutor in the 2004 and 2006 deployment. He also practiced private law at the Riker Danzig firm as chief diversity officer before his magistrate nomination.
Quraishi’s time litigating involved both corporate and civil cases regarding white collar law. Zahid also tried federal criminal cases as an Assistant United states Attorney for the District of New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office for five years, involving issues from corruption to drug and firearm offenses.
Zahid’s experience is backed from associate work at numerous private firms and under the Superior Court of New Jersey. He was also previously a trustee with the New Jersey sections of the Federal Bar,
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the United States Attorney’s Office Alumni Association.
Additionally, Zahid is a well qualified and recognized candidate in the legal field, with recognition from several U.S. Chamber reviews. Quraishi has received the Alumni Award, as well as awards in professional achievement, trailblazing, and standing ovation. He was recognized as a “New Leader of the Bar” in 2014 by the New Jersey Law Journal.
Quraishi was previously nominated at the end of the second term of the Obama administration, but was not confirmed. Biden’s new wave of nominations have come with confirmations of historically underrepresented groups.
