In a historic move, US President Joe Biden has put forth the nomination of Adeel A. Mangi for a federal judgeship. If confirmed, Mangi will break barriers as the first Muslim-American and the initial Pakistani to sit on any US circuit court.
Hailing from a distinguished Sindhi family, Mangi is one of five nominees for federal judgeships announced by the White House. His nomination aligns with the administration's pledge to enhance diversity within the judiciary. Specifically, he has been selected for the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals, headquartered in Philadelphia, covering Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands.
Born in Karachi, Mangi obtained his law degree from the University of Oxford in 1998. He furthered his legal education at Lincoln’s Inn and the Inns of Court School of Law in London, earning qualification as a British Barrister in Law in 1999.
Subsequently, he pursued an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2000. Mangi has since distinguished himself as a civil litigator, serving as a partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler in New York, where he handled complex, high-stakes cases for a diverse clientele.
In addition to his professional achievements, Mangi has dedicated extensive time to pro bono service. He has filed numerous amicus briefs in federal appellate courts and before the US Supreme Court on behalf of cross-faith religious coalitions. Notably, he successfully advocated for Muslim communities seeking to construct and open mosques.
The White House underscored Mangi's experience in managing court filings, citing his representation of a multi-faith coalition in a case before the Supreme Court.
Mangi's nomination holds significance against the backdrop of increasing Islamophobia and challenges faced by the Muslim community. President Biden's commitment to diversifying judicial appointments, particularly amid geopolitical challenges like those in the Middle East, reflects a broader dedication to addressing concerns within various communities.
Before these nominations take effect, all five candidates, including Mangi, must receive confirmation from the US Senate. The Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) expressed its support for Mangi's nomination, with its president, Dr. Maqbool Halepoto, and general secretary, Mushtaq Rajpar, stating that "Adeel Mangi’s nomination gives hope to immigrants that when they work hard, their talents are recognized in this country."
Senator Cory Booker, a member of the US Senate's judiciary committee, applauded Mangi's nomination. In a statement, Booker said, "Having come to know Adeel Mangi over the years as a fixture in the New Jersey legal community, I have seen firsthand that he is a person of integrity and deep conviction with an unflinching commitment to fairness and equality. I thank President Biden for this historic nomination, and I look forward to introducing Adeel Mangi to my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for his hearing."
This nomination comes two years after the Senate's confirmation of the first Muslim-American federal judge, Zahid Quraishi, who currently serves on a district court for New Jersey.