First Muslim Woman to Be Federal Judge Confirmed by the Senate
Originally published by Lola Fadulu for The New York Times
Nusrat Choudhury, a civil rights lawyer, was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as a federal judge in New York, making her the first female Muslim American and first Bangladeshi American to hold that distinction in U.S. history.
Judge Choudhury, most recently the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, was confirmed by a vote of 50-49, with every Democrat but one supporting her.
Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, praised Judge Choudhury on the Senate floor as “a shining example of the American dream.” Mr. Schumer had recommended that President Biden nominate her for a judgeship.
“Our courts are at their strongest when they mirror the diversity and dynamism of our democracy, and we have a vibrant Bangladeshi community in New York and in the United States,” Mr. Schumer said.