President Biden nominates first Muslim woman to serve as federal judge

What happened: President Biden announced eight judicial nominations on Jan 19, which included Nusrat Jehan Choudhury, the first Muslim woman to be appointed to the federal bench. Who is Nusrat Jehan: Ms. Choudhury, who has served as the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois since 2020 would also be the first Bangladeshi-American and the second Muslim-American to serve as a federal judge if her nominee is approved by the Senate. She was deputy director of the Racial Justice Programme from 2018 to 2020 before becoming legal director of the ACLU of Illinois. Choudhury is known for spearheading legal efforts to safeguard immigrants from dangerous detention circumstances and to end racial profiling. Why it matters: Biden’s dedication to diversifying historically white, male-dominated positions is reflected in the nominees, according to the White House. Choudhury’s nomination was revealed alongside seven others, including Philadelphia public defender Arianna Freeman, who would be the first Black woman to serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals if confirmed.