Obama nominates Pakistani American Abid Qureshi to serve as federal judge

In a first for an American Muslim, President Barack Obama has nominated a prominent Pakistani American legal expert Abid Riaz Qureshi to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

 “I am pleased to nominate Mr. Qureshi to serve on the United States District Court bench,” said President Obama. “I am confident he will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Qureshi will be the first American Muslim to serves as federal judge.

With the Obama presidency nearing its conclusion, Republicans in the Senate have been delaying confirmation of the White House nominees to various positions.

Abid Riaz Qureshi is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins LLP, where he specializes in cases involving the False Claims Act, health care fraud, and securities violations.  Qureshi has spent the entirety of his legal career at Latham & Watkins LLP, where he currently serves as the Global Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, a position he has held since 2012.  From 2006 to 2011, he served as Co-Chair of the Litigation Department in the Washington, D.C. office. 

Qureshi has also served on the District of Columbia Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee since 2015. He received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1997 and his B.A. summa cum laude from Cornell University in 1993.  

Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, welcomed the nomination in a statement, saying Qureshi’s “profound commitment to the rule of law and justice for people of all backgrounds makes him an exceptional nominee.”

“A judiciary that reflects the rich diversity of our nation helps ensure the fair and just administration of the law, and it is vital for American Muslims to be included,” Khera said.

According to Bloomberg news service, Bill Voge, chair of Latham, issued a statement congratulating Qureshi.

“Abid is an exceptional litigator who has represented clients before state and federal courts (at the district and appellate levels), before national and international arbitral tribunals, and before state and federal regulators. He practices with the highest level of integrity and has made significant contributions to our firm, particularly with respect to Latham’s pro bono program which he has led as global chair since 2012.”