Meet Judge Zahid Quraishi: The First Muslim American Article III Judge

Judge Zahid Quraishi is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021, he is the first Muslim American to serve as an Article III judge in the country.

Early Life and Education

Born in New York City to parents who immigrated from Pakistan, Judge Quraishi was raised in Fanwood, New Jersey. He graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1993 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1997. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School in 2000.

Career

After law school, Judge Quraishi served as a law clerk to Judge Edwin Stern of the New Jersey Superior Court from 2000 to 2001. He then worked as a litigation associate at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in Newark, New Jersey, from 2001 to 2003.

In 2003, Judge Quraishi joined the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and attained the rank of captain. He was stationed in Germany and deployed twice to Iraq in support of the Iraq War, both in 2004 and 2006.

After leaving the military in 2007, Judge Quraishi became an assistant chief counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York City for approximately one year. He later became an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey from 2008 to 2013. Before becoming a judge, he was an attorney at Morristown's Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP, and was a partner at the firm from 2016 to 2019. He also taught courses on trial presentation at Rutgers Law School in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021.

Federal Judicial Service

In 2019, Judge Quraishi was appointed as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He served in that position until 2021 when he was appointed as a district judge by President Biden.

His nomination drew scrutiny from some Muslim American advocates, who criticized the Biden administration for sidestepping a number of Muslim American civil rights organizations to nominate him. Critics said many of Quraishi's legal positions are unknown, and that his past work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and his role as a "detention advisor" in the Iraq war raised questions about his stance on civil rights.

Judicial Preferences

Judge Quraishi prefers pre-motion conferences to be held before bringing a motion to dismiss, motion for a more definite statement, motion to remand, motion for change of venue, and motion for judgment on the pleadings. Parties must submit a letter requesting a pre-motion conference with the basis for the anticipated motion and citations to relevant authority. Within seven days after receipt of this letter, all adversaries must submit a written response. The Court will attempt to resolve the dispute(s) at a pre-motion conference, to the extent possible.

Final Thoughts

Judge Zahid Quraishi is a trailblazer in the legal profession and has achieved many firsts in his career. He is a highly accomplished judge and attorney with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, including his service in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. As the first Muslim-American federal judge in the United States, he brings a unique perspective to the bench and is a role model for individuals of all backgrounds. His dedication to public service and commitment to justice make him an inspiring figure in the legal community. It is clear that Judge Quraishi will continue to make significant contributions to the legal profession for years to come, and his legacy will serve as a source of inspiration for future generations of lawyers and judges.

Learn More

https://www.njd.uscourts.gov/content/zahid-n-quraishi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahid_Quraishi

This article is intended for informational and biographical purposes only. It is not authorized by any judge and should not be construed as official or legal advice.