Biden’s judicial appointments highlight diversity

EDNY’s Nusrat Choudhury makes history as first Muslim federal judge

December 23, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Judge Nusrat Choudhury, the first Muslim woman and Bangladeshi American federal judge, brings her civil rights expertise to the Eastern District of New York. Photo courtesy of Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury

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President Joe Biden’s commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary has brought significant change to courts across the country, including the Eastern District of New York (EDNY). Among the administration’s most notable appointments is Judge Nusrat Choudhury, who made history as the first Muslim woman and Bangladeshi-American federal judge.

Biden has aimed to ensure that federal judges better reflect the population they serve, both demographically and professionally. Advocates for diversity in the judiciary argue that bringing more varied experiences to the bench improves decision-making by broadening the perspectives available in cases that impact communities across the country.

Judge Choudhury, confirmed in 2023, reflects this shift. Her career as a civil rights attorney with the ACLU has brought a fresh perspective to the EDNY, which serves one of the most diverse populations in the United States.

The Biden administration has confirmed 235 lifetime judges to date, with nearly two-thirds being women and 40% having backgrounds in civil rights or public defense. This professional diversity represents a departure from the traditionally narrow career paths of many federal judges, who have often come from corporate law or prosecutorial roles.

In addition to Judge Choudhury, Biden’s appointments include a record number of judges of color. Of these, 89 are women of color — a stark contrast to the judiciary of the past. Such appointments aim to align the federal bench more closely with the communities it serves.

Judge Nusrat Choudhury brings a distinguished background to the bench. Before her historic confirmation in June 2023, she served as legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois and held several roles with the national ACLU, including as deputy director of the Racial Justice Program. Over more than 14 years, she handled numerous complex federal cases, advancing constitutional rights for underserved communities.

Her impactful litigation included challenges to unconstitutional policing practices, racial and religious profiling, and the jailing of individuals unable to pay fines or fees. These efforts led to significant policy changes in states like Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina.

Choudhury holds degrees from Yale Law School, Princeton University and Columbia University. She clerked for Judge Barrington Parker Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Denise Cote of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Despite these milestones, the road to a more inclusive judiciary has not been without obstacles. Several of Biden’s judicial nominees have faced political opposition, with some withdrawing their nominations. Critics have questioned whether professional diversity compromises qualifications, though supporters argue that such critiques often overlook the depth of experience civil rights and public defense attorneys bring to the bench.