Washington, DC — On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for a host of diverse judicial nominees including Nusrat Choudhury, who would be the first Muslim woman and the first Bangladeshi American to serve as a Senate-confirmed federal judge if confirmed. Muslim Advocates has urged the White House to nominate Choudhury and previously sent Sen. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand a letter urging them to do the same. In January, President Joe Biden officially nominated Choudhury.

When: Wednesday, April 27, starting at 10 AM ET

Where: View livestream here

The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Senior Policy Counsel Sumayyah Waheed:

“At a time when our judiciary is in crisis and bedrock rights protecting marginalized communities are under assault, Nusrat Choudhury is exactly the kind of person we need on the federal bench. She has dedicated her life to defending civil rights and her potential to be the first Muslim woman and first Bangladeshi American confirmed by the Senate to be a federal judge would inspire generations of young women of color. 

We urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to give her and her fellow co-panelists a fair hearing. American Muslims in particular have not been treated fairly by the Senate confirmation process and we urge members of both parties to avoid attacks based on one’s faith and to avoid spreading harmful anti-Muslim tropes. Some of the questions asked by the committee of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her faith, for example, came far too close to imposing an unconstitutional religious litmus test on a judicial nominee. The same questions asked of an American Muslim would be even more fraught. Ms. Choudhury and her fellow nominees have dedicated their lives to serving the public and they deserve a fair hearing free from bigotry.”

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Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.