Muslim-American groups are applauding President Barack Obama's nomination of a Washington lawyer to serve in U.S. District Court — a move that could make him the first ever Muslim-American federal judge, according to advocates.

If confirmed, Abid Riaz Qureshi would sit on the District of Columbia's federal bench, If confirmed, Abid Riaz Qureshi would sit on the District of Columbia's federal bench, the White House announced Tuesday . Qureshi, who graduated Harvard Law School in 1997, is a partner in the D.C. office of Latham & Watkins LLP, specializing in healthcare fraud, securities violations, and cases involving the False Claims Act, according to a White House statement.

SECURITY WARNING: Please treat the URL above as you would your password and do not share it with anyone. See the Facebook Help Center for more information. SECURITY WARNING: Please treat the URL above as you would your password and do not share it with anyone. See the Facebook Help Center for more information. News Feed app-facebook CAIR 15 hours ago . # CAIR Welcomes President Obama’s Nomination of First Muslim to Be Federal Judge (WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/6/16) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed President Obama’s nomination of Abid Riaz Qureshi to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. ...

https://www.whitehouse.gov/…/president-obama-nominates-abid… Columbia SEE: President Obama Nominates Abid Riaz Qureshi to Serve on the United States District Court for the District of Qureshi, who would be the first American Muslim to serve as a federal judge, is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins LLP. He has also served on the District of Columbia Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee. Qureshi received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1997 and his B.A. summa cum laude from Cornell University in 1993. “The nomination of Abid Qureshi to fill a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sends a message of inclusion that is welcomed by the American Muslim community and by all Americans who value diversity and mutual respect at a time when some seek division and discord,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “If confirmed, Qureshi will join the hundreds of thousands of American Muslims serving their fellow citizens and the nation.” CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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"I am confident he will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice," Obama said.

Muslim-American organizations hailed the historic announcement.

"The nomination of Abid Qureshi to fill a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sends a message of inclusion that is welcomed by the American Muslim community and by all Americans who value diversity and mutual respect at a time when some seek division and discord," Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group, said in a statement.

News Feed app-facebook Muslim Advocates 19 hours ago . BREAKING NEWS: Today President Obama nominated Abid R. Qureshi to serve as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. A litigation partner at Latham & Watkins LLP in Washington, DC, Mr. Qureshi is the first American Muslim to be nominated to serve on the federal judiciary. “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,” said F ... arhana Khera, former counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and executive director of Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy organization. “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. Mr. Qureshi’s profound commitment to the rule of law and justice for people of all backgrounds makes him an exceptional nominee.” Mr. Qureshi has a long and distinguished legal career. He has served as lead counsel in numerous trials before state and federal courts across the country and has represented clients at the trial and appellate levels and before state and federal regulators and national and international arbitral tribunals. Mr. Qureshi has also served as Chair of Latham’s Global Pro Bono Committee since 2012, overseeing one of the world’s largest pro bono programs. His pro bono work has included working with Muslim Advocates on two cutting edge civil rights cases. Mr. Qureshi is the recipient of the “Champions of Justice” Award in 2012 by the National Law Journal’s Legal Times for upholding the profession’s core values through public service, pro bono work, and advocacy for civil liberties. In 2014, he was included in the Washington, DC Super Lawyers list, which recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. Mr. Qureshi sits on the DC Bar Legal Ethics Committee. He is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School. While a number of American Muslims have served with distinction as judges at the state level, there has never been a Muslim judge at the federal trial or appellate levels. Muslim Advocates calls for a prompt hearing and full and fair consideration of this sterling nominee by the U.S. Senate. See More Muslim Advocates Heralds President Obama’s Historic Judicial Nomination Abid R. Qureshi becomes first American Muslim federal judicial nominee Sept. 6, 2016—Today President Obama nominated Abid R. Qureshi to… muslimadvocates.org . . 103 3 34

While Muslim Americans have filled roles as state judges, none have served at the federal trial or appellate levels, according to Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy organization.

"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," Farhana Khera, former counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and executive director of Muslim Advocates, said in a statement. "Mr. Qureshi's profound commitment to the rule of law and justice for people of all backgrounds makes him an exceptional nominee."

News of Qureshi's nomination comes amid a heated presidential race in which Muslims have found themselves the subject of much debate, including GOP nominee Donald Trump's proposal of a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country.

With a few months left before Obama's term ends, it remains unclear whether Qureshi's nomination will make it out of Congress.

Jamie C. Glick, a spokesperson for Latham & Watkins, told NBC News in an email that Qureshi was unavailable for comment. Bill Voge, chair and managing partner of Latham & Watkins, congratulated Qureshi on his nomination and in a statement called him an exceptional litigator.

"He practices with the highest level of integrity and has made significant contributions to our firm, particularly with respect to Latham's pro bono program which he has led as global chair since 2012," Voge said.

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