Zahid Quraishi
Zahid Quraishi | |
---|---|
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey | |
Assumed office June 22, 2021 | |
Appointed by | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Peter G. Sheridan |
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey | |
In office June 3, 2019 – June 22, 2021 | |
Personal details | |
Born | New York City, New York, U.S. | July 19, 1975
Education | John Jay College of Criminal Justice (BA) Rutgers University (JD) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 2003–2007 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | Judge Advocate General's Corps |
Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Awards | |
Zahid Nisar Quraishi (born July 19, 1975)[1] is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and a former United States magistrate judge of the same court. He is the first Muslim Article III federal judge confirmed by the United States Senate.[2]
Early life and education
Quraishi was born in New York City and raised in Fanwood, New Jersey, by his parents Shahida P. Quraishi and Dr. Nisar A. Quraishi, immigrants from Pakistan.[3] He graduated in 1993 from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.[4] He received his Bachelor of Arts from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1997, and his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School in 2000.
Career
Upon graduating from law school, Quraishi served as a law clerk to Judge Edwin Stern of the New Jersey Superior Court from 2000 to 2001.[5] From 2001 to 2003, he worked as a litigation associate at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in Newark, New Jersey.[6]
Military service
In June 2003, Quraishi left his law firm to join the
Legal career
In 2007, Quraishi became an assistant chief counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel at
Federal judicial service
Quraishi served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, a position he was appointed to on June 3, 2019, and left in 2021 upon becoming a district judge. He was the first Asian-American to sit on the federal bench in New Jersey.[9]
On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Quraishi to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.[5] Quraishi was recommended by Senator Cory Booker.[10] Quraishi's nomination drew scrutiny from some Muslim American advocates, who criticized the Biden administration for sidestepping a number of Muslim American civil rights organizations to nominate Quraishi. Critics said many of Quraishi's legal positions are unknown, and that his past work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and his role as a "detention advisor" in the Iraq war raised questions about his stance on civil rights.[11] On April 19, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Quraishi to the seat vacated by Judge Peter G. Sheridan, who assumed senior status on June 14, 2018.[12]
On April 28, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Notable rulings
On January 31, 2023, he blocked a New Jersey law that allows the state to sue the gun industry because it violates the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.[20][21][22][23]
In 2024, Quraishi oversaw Kim v. Hanlon, a case brought by Senate candidate
See also
References
- ^ "Zahid N. Quraishi". New Jersey Law Journal. July 24, 2014.
- ^ Wiessner, Daniel (June 11, 2021). "Senate confirms first federal Muslim judge in U.S. history". Reuters. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ^ "Nisar Quraishi, 73, Longtime Tribeca MD, 'Gave His Life to What He Loved'". April 19, 2020.
- ^ "Congratulations Graduates: Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School Class of 1993", The Times, June 24, 1993. Accessed March 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates", White House, March 30, 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Menendez Urges Swift Confirmation of Julien Neals, Zahid Quraishi to NJ Federal Court". Insider NJ. April 28, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Zahid N. Quraishi Assumes Leadership of White Collar Criminal Practice". February 1, 2019.
- ^ Biryukov, Nikita; September 9, New Jersey Monitor. "Anti-vaccine group seeks judge's recusal from Rutgers mandate case". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Rutgers Law Grad Becomes First Asian American Federal Judge in New Jersey". July 30, 2019.
- ^ Sammon, Alexander (February 24, 2023). "The Curious Case of Cory Booker's Judicial Appointments". Slate.
- ^ Ismail, Aymann (April 27, 2021). "A Biden Judge Would Be the First-Ever Muslim on the Federal Bench. Some Muslims Are Furious". Slate Magazine. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, April 19, 2021
- ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for April 28, 2021
- ^ Results of Executive Business Meeting – May 20, 2021, Senate Judiciary Committee
- ^ "PN394 — Zahid N. Quraishi — The Judiciary". congress.gov. June 10, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
- ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Zahid N. Quraishi, of New Jersey, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey)". www.senate.gov. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Zahid N. Quraishi, of New Jersey, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey)". www.senate.gov. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Biden Names 'Trailblazing' Slate of Judicial Nominees With Diverse Backgrounds". NBC10 Philadelphia. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Zahid Quraishi at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "National Shooting Sports Foundation v. Matthew J. Platkin" (PDF). January 31, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ Pierson, Brendan (January 31, 2023). "Court blocks New Jersey law that allows state to sue gun industry". Reuters. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ Han, Daniel (January 31, 2023). "Federal judge blocks New Jersey law that allows state to sue gun industry". Politico. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ Gans, Jared (February 1, 2023). "Judge blocks NJ law allowing state to sue gun industry". The Hill. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Fox, Joey (March 29, 2024). "Federal judge strikes down county lines for this year's election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
External links
- Zahid Quraishi at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Zahid Quraishi at Ballotpedia