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President Obama nominated Abid Riaz Qureshi of Maryland to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Sept. 6. Qureshi is a partner in the law firm Latham & Watkins’ Litigation & Trial Department in the Washington, D.C. office. According to the National Law Journal, Qureshi was born in Pakistan.
He will join a relatively small number of Muslim federal judges if the U.S. Senate confirms his nomination, which could become a contentious one in the backdrop of a presidential race that has one candidate speaking about a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants.
“I am pleased to nominate Mr. Qureshi to serve on the United States District Court bench,” President Obama is quoted saying in a Sept. 6 White House press release. “I am confident he will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.”
The National Law Journal in 2012, recognized Qureshi as a legal “champion” for his pro bono work. His clients have included prisoners, foreign-educated physical therapists and the National Organization of Concerned Black Men. But ” Other clients would make Qureshi both a target and a potent symbol in a political season where presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has called for a ban on Muslims entering the country,” the Journal noted when Qureshi was one of several candidates being vetted for the post. “Qureshi has represented a Saudi-funded Islamic school in a labor dispute and the California-based civil rights group Muslim Advocates in a First Amendment case.
He is the global Chair of Latham’s Pro Bono Committee since 2012, and previously served as Co-chair for the Washington, D.C. office Litigation & Trial Department.
He has particular expertise in matters involving False Claims Act liability. violations of the federal securities laws, and healthcare fraud and abuse.
He has served as lead counsel in numerous trials before federal and state courts throughout the country. He has represented clients in state and federal courts (at the district and appellate levels), national and international arbitral tribunals and before state and federal regulators, his profile on the law firm’s website states.
In addition to his commercial litigation experience, Qureshi has substantial experience handling internal corporate investigations, governmental inquiries and regulatory proceedings.
He has particular facility with managing large multi-faceted investigations on behalf of international companies.
He was recognized in the 2014 Washington, D.C. “Super Lawyers” list which recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice.
He has also served on the District of Columbia Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee since 2015.
Qureshi graduated summa cum laude from Cornell University in 1993, and received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1997. Admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1997 and the District of Columbia Bar in 2000, Qureshi is considered by his colleagues as a sterling lawyer and human being.
In a Career Center Survey December 2010 posted on the website Abovethelaw.com, a litigation partner and co-chair of Latham & Watkins Litigation Department in the D.C. office described Qureshi as “seriously nice, kind, and compassionate to work for, but a kick-ass litigator who I’d hate to see on the other side.” He is also “collegial to his colleagues, focuses on giving credit and good work to associates, and is a fabulous human being,” the colleague said.
According to a Washington Post news report in 1988, Qureshi, a student at Gar-Field High School, was among 36 students nominated to the Governor’s School for the Gifted.
The national advocacy organization, Muslim Advocates, lauded President Obama’s choice for the judgeship.
“I commend President Obama for taking this important step in continuing to pick the best and brightest from every community to serve as part of our nation’s judiciary,” Farhana Khera, former counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and executive director of Muslim Advocates. “A judiciary that reflects the rich diversity of our nation helps ensure the fair and just administration of the law, and it is vital for American Muslims to be included,” Khera added.
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