US Senate confirms first female Muslim federal judge

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The US Senate confirmed along party lines on Thursday Nusrat Jahan Choudhury to serve as the first Muslim woman and the first Bangladeshi American to serve as a federal judge.

The Senate narrowly approved Choudhury’s nomination in a 50-49 vote with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin siding with all Republicans in voting in opposition. She will now be a US District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.

Choudhury previously served as a legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) rights group after serving as Deputy Director the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program.

She graduated from Columbia University, Princeton University, and Yale Law School.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hailed Choudhury’s confirmation, saying he was proud to recommend her to President Joe Biden.