Zahid Quraishi

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Zahid Quraishi

| image = Judge Zahid Quraishi (cropped).png

| office = Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

| term_start = June 22, 2021

| term_end =

| appointer = Joe Biden

| predecessor = Peter G. Sheridan

| successor =

| office1 = Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

| term_start1 = June 3, 2019

| term_end1 = June 22, 2021

| predecessor1 =

| successor1 =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|7|19}}

| birth_place = {{nowrap|New York City, New York, U.S.}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = John Jay College of Criminal Justice (BA)
Rutgers University (JD)

| party =

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{army|United States|size=23px}}

| unit = 23px United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
18px 1st Infantry Division

| serviceyears = 2003–2007

| rank = 23px Captain

| battles = Operation Iraqi Freedom

| mawards = {{collapsible list

|titlestyle= background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;

|title= See list

|23px Combat Action Badge
23px Bronze Star Medal
23px Army Commendation Medal (with 10px oak leaf cluster)
23px Army Achievement Medal (with 10px oak leaf cluster)
23px National Defense Service Medal
23px Iraq Campaign Medal
23px Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
23px Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
23px Army Overseas Service Ribbon
23px Army Service Ribbon
23px New Jersey Distinguished Service Ribbon}}

}}

Zahid Nisar Quraishi (born July 19, 1975){{cite web|url=https://www.law.com/njlawjournal/almID/1202664704977/|title=Zahid N. Quraishi|work=New Jersey Law Journal|date=July 24, 2014}} is an American judge. He is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and a former United States magistrate judge of the same court. He is the first Muslim Article III federal judge confirmed by the United States Senate.{{Cite news |last=Wiessner |first=Daniel |date=June 11, 2021 |title=Senate confirms first federal Muslim judge in U.S. history |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/senate-confirms-first-federal-muslim-judge-us-history-2021-06-10/ |access-date=August 14, 2022}}

Early life and education

Quraishi was born in New York City and raised in Fanwood, New Jersey, by his parents Shahida P. Quraishi and Dr. Nisar A. Quraishi, immigrants from Pakistan.{{cite web|url= http://www.tribecatrib.com/content/nisar-quraishi-73-longtime-tribeca-md-gave-his-life-what-he-loved|title=Nisar Quraishi, 73, Longtime Tribeca MD, 'Gave His Life to What He Loved' |date=April 19, 2020|publisher=}} He graduated in 1993 from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.[http://www.thejointlibrary.org/archives/TheTimes/1993/1993-06-24/1993-06-24.pdf#page=7 "Congratulations Graduates: Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School Class of 1993"], The Times, June 24, 1993. Accessed March 30, 2021. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1997, and his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School in 2000.

Career

Upon graduating from law school, Quraishi served as a law clerk to Judge Edwin Stern of the New Jersey Superior Court from 2000 to 2001.[https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/30/president-biden-announces-intent-to-nominate-11-judicial-candidates/ "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates", White House, March 30, 2021] {{PD-notice}} From 2001 to 2003, he worked as a litigation associate at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in Newark, New Jersey.{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2021 |title=Menendez Urges Swift Confirmation of Julien Neals, Zahid Quraishi to NJ Federal Court |url=https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/menendez-urges-swift-confirmation-julien-neals-zahid-quraishi-nj-federal-court/ |access-date=May 31, 2021 |website=Insider NJ |language=en-US}}

= Military service =

In June 2003, Quraishi left private practice to serve in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.{{Cite web |title=Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Zahid Quraishi |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Quraishi%20Senate%20Judiciary%20Questionnaire.pdf |access-date=December 18, 2024 |website=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary}} Stationed first in Schweinfurt, Germany, he provided legal counsel to commanders, navigating the complex intersection of law and military operations.

In early 2004, he deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, during the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There, in an active combat zone, Quraishi advised on detainee operations, rules of engagement, and military justice. Returning to Germany later that year, he resumed his duties until his second deployment in August 2006, this time to Ramadi, Iraq. During this critical phase of the conflict, he worked amid intense combat conditions, once again applying his legal expertise to operational challenges on the ground.

By the time his service ended in 2007, Quraishi honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. His service was distinguished by numerous decorations, including the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge, as well as multiple commendation and achievement medals. He remains a Selective Service registrant.

= Legal career =

In 2007, 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, Quraishi was an attorney at Morristown's Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP, and was a partner at the firm from 2016–2019.{{cite web|url=https://njbmagazine.com/njb-news-now/zahid-n-quraishi-assumes-leadership-of-white-collar-criminal-practice|title=Zahid N. Quraishi Assumes Leadership of White Collar Criminal Practice|date=February 1, 2019|publisher=}} Quraishi taught courses on trial presentation at Rutgers Law School in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021.{{cite news |last1=Biryukov |first1=Nikita |last2=September 9 |first2=New Jersey Monitor |title=Anti-vaccine group seeks judge's recusal from Rutgers mandate case |url=https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/anti-vaccine-group-seeks-judges-recusal-from-rutgers-mandate-case/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |work=New Jersey Monitor}}

= Federal judicial service =

Quraishi served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, a position he was appointed to on June 3, 2019, and left in 2021 upon becoming a district judge. He was the first Asian-American to sit on the federal bench in New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://law.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-law-grad-becomes-first-asian-american-federal-judge-new-jersey|title=Rutgers Law Grad Becomes First Asian American Federal Judge in New Jersey|date=July 30, 2019|publisher=}}

On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Quraishi to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Quraishi was recommended by Senator Cory Booker.{{cite journal | url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/02/cory-booker-judicial-appointments-biden-judges.html | title=The Curious Case of Cory Booker's Judicial Appointments | journal=Slate | date=February 24, 2023 | last1=Sammon | first1=Alexander }} Quraishi's 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 Quraishi. 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.{{cite news |last1=Ismail |first1=Aymann |title=A Biden Judge Would Be the First-Ever Muslim on the Federal Bench. Some Muslims Are Furious. |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/04/zahid-quraishi-muslim-federal-judge-criticism.html |access-date=September 27, 2021 |work=Slate Magazine |date=April 27, 2021 |language=en}} On April 19, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Quraishi to the seat vacated by Judge Peter G. Sheridan, who assumed senior status on June 14, 2018.[https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/19/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-11/ "Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, April 19, 2021]

On April 28, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/04/21/2021/nominations United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for April 28, 2021] On May 20, 2021, his nomination was favorably reported out of committee by a 19–3 vote.[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%20May%2020,%202021.pdf Results of Executive Business Meeting – May 20, 2021, Senate Judiciary Committee]{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2021 |title=PN394 — Zahid N. Quraishi — The Judiciary |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/394 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=congress.gov}} On June 10, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by an 83–16 vote.{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2021 |title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Zahid N. Quraishi, of New Jersey, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00228 |access-date=June 10, 2021 |website=www.senate.gov}} His nomination was confirmed later that day by an 81–16 vote.{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2021 |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Zahid N. Quraishi, of New Jersey, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00230 |access-date=June 10, 2021 |website=www.senate.gov}} Upon confirmation, he became the first Muslim-American to serve on a federal district court as an Article III judge.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Biden Names 'Trailblazing' Slate of Judicial Nominees With Diverse Backgrounds |url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/biden-names-trailblazing-slate-of-judicial-nominees-with-diverse-backgrounds/2760731/ |access-date=March 30, 2021 |website=NBC10 Philadelphia |language=en-US}} He received his judicial commission on June 22, 2021.{{FJC Bio|nid=10236621|inline=yes}}

== Notable rulings ==

On January 31, 2023, he blocked a New Jersey law that allows the state to sue the gun industry because it violates the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.{{Cite web|date=January 31, 2023|title=National Shooting Sports Foundation v. Matthew J. Platkin|url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.njd.504488/gov.uscourts.njd.504488.17.0_1.pdf|access-date=March 29, 2024}}{{Cite news|date=January 31, 2023|last=Pierson|first=Brendan|title=Court blocks New Jersey law that allows state to sue gun industry|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/court-blocks-new-jersey-law-that-allows-state-sue-gun-industry-2023-01-31/|website=Reuters|access-date=March 29, 2024}}{{Cite news|date=January 31, 2023|last=Han|first=Daniel|title=Federal judge blocks New Jersey law that allows state to sue gun industry|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/31/judge-new-jersey-law-gun-industry-00080467|website=Politico|access-date=March 29, 2024}}{{Cite news|date=February 1, 2023|last=Gans|first=Jared|title=Judge blocks NJ law allowing state to sue gun industry|url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3839612-judge-blocks-nj-law-allowing-state-to-sue-gun-industry/amp/|website=The Hill|access-date=March 29, 2024}}

In 2024, Quraishi oversaw Kim v. Hanlon, a case brought by Senate candidate Andy Kim and others challenging the county line, a ballot design that allowed county party leaders to give preferential ballot placement to endorsed primary candidates. The New Jersey Globe called Quraishi "the most powerful person in New Jersey politics today" for his ability to end or maintain the controversial practice.{{Cite web |last=Wildstein |first=David |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Federal judge in organization line lawsuit could be the most powerful man in N.J. |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/judiciary/federal-judge-in-organization-line-lawsuit-could-be-the-most-powerful-man-in-n-j/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |website=New Jersey Globe}} On March 29, 2024, Quraishi issued an injunction against the county line, directing clerks to instead print ballots with candidates organized by office in randomized order for the 2024 Democratic primary election.{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Joey |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Federal judge strikes down county lines for this year's election |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/judiciary/quraishi-overturns-the-county-line/ |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=New Jersey Globe |language=en-US}}