WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Natasha Merle for the Eastern District of New York yesterday, following their recent earlier important confirmations of Julie Rikelman to serve the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and Nusrat Choudhury to serve the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Each appointee is noted for their significant contributions to civil rights and public interest law. The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
“The Lawyers’ Committee congratulates Julie Rikelman, Nusrat Choudhury, and Natasha Merle.
“All of these confirmations are historic. Julie Rikelman will be the first immigrant and Jewish woman on the First Circuit. Nusrat Choudhury will be the first Muslim and Bangladeshi-American woman in the federal judiciary. Natasha Merle will be just the second judge who was a public defender in her district’s history.
“While we celebrate these confirmations we cannot lose sight of the work that remains. Their appointments are indeed historic, each representing a significant breakthrough in their own right. However, women currently represent only about thirty-seven percent of active Article III judges, and fewer than five percent of federal judges are experienced civil rights advocates. These figures underscore the need for ongoing commitment to diversity and expanded representation in our judiciary.
“We urge the Senate to continue confirming judicial nominees who reflect the full spectrum of American life and experience. We also call upon President Biden to keep prioritizing the appointment of accomplished civil rights lawyers who, by necessity, are among the nation’s most talented and diligent litigators. It is through these actions that we will build a fair and representative judicial system that truly reflects the diversity of interests and aspirations of the American public.”
