Sohail Mohammed: First Indian American Superior Court Judge
Sohail Mohammed, 47, who was nominated by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for a judgeship in January, was confirmed by the state Senate on June 30. He was sworn in July 1, and will serve in the Superior Court in Passaic County.
Mohammed becomes the first Indian-American judge in New Jersey and among very few around the country.
"I am deeply honored and privileged to be appointed by Gov. Christie. And it is a double honor to be an Indian American and to be appointed judge," Mohammed told Desi Talk. "I feel so proud to represent the two greatest democracies."
His nomination had generated some opposition from individuals and groups who accused him of defending detainees taken in after the 9/11 attacks.
But Christie countered the criticism and backed his candidature with high praise for his work.
As a board member of the American Muslim Union, Mohammed worked to generate trust between law enforcement and American Muslims, The New York Times reported.
He also organized a job fair encouraging Muslims to apply for law enforcement jobs. Christie attended one of the American Muslim Union's annual Ramadan dinners during his time as U.S. Attorney starting 2002.
Born in Hyderabad, Mohammed came to the U.S. with his parents when he was 17, he told Desi Talk.
He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1988 from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and then worked full-time for GEC-Marconi Electronic Systems in New Jersey.
At the same time, he worked on his law degree at the Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, N.J. doing evening classes.
"Jury duty influenced me and inspired me to consider a career in law," Mohammed said.
In 2009, he was named among the 101 most influential people in New Jersey by the New Jersey Monthly magazine. He was on the New Jersey "Super Lawyer" list six years running from 2006 to 2011.
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