US President made history by nominating Abid Qureshi to the US District Court in the District of Columbia, Huffington Post said in a report. He will be the first Muslim federal judge of the United States.
Qureshi, a Pakistan-born American, has been partner at a Latham and Watkins, a law firm based in Washington DC since 2006.
“I am pleased to nominate Qureshi to serve on the United States District Court bench,” Obama said in a statement. “I am confident he will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”
Muslim advocacy groups have hailed the nomination by President Obama.
“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, executive director of Muslim Advocates, a legal advocacy organisation.
The nomination comes in twilight days of Obama Presidency and success of Qureshi’s nomination remains uncertain. With just months left in Obama’s term, Senate Republicans have virtually stopped confirming his judicial nominations.
The nomination, however, carry symbolic importance for judicial diversity in a campaign in which Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has expressed insecurities regarding fair treatment by a Muslim judge.
