Nusrat Choudhury Confirmed as First-Ever Muslim American Woman to Serve on Federal Bench

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Nusrat Choudhury to a lifetime federal judgeship, making her the first-ever Muslim American woman to serve on the federal bench. The confirmation was made along party lines in a 50-49 vote, with all Democrats, including the two independents who caucus with them, voting to confirm her, except for one: Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Choudhury, 47, is a longtime civil rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She served from 2008 to 2020 at the national ACLU office, including seven years as deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program. She worked for more than 11 years at the national ACLU chapter in New York City, and since 2020, has been the legal director for the ACLU of Illinois.

The confirmation of Choudhury drew praise from the ACLU, which called her a “trailblazing civil rights lawyer” in a tweet. Choudhury’s confirmation is a historic moment for the Muslim American community, as she is the first Muslim American woman to serve on the federal bench.

Choudhury is set to assume her lifetime appointment in Brooklyn federal court in New York. Her confirmation is a step forward in the fight for greater diversity and representation in the federal judiciary. Her appointment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of civil rights lawyers and activists who have worked to ensure that all Americans are represented in the highest levels of government.