DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | November 06, 2024

Published 13 Apr, 2006 12:00am

US has first Muslim woman judge

WASHINGTON, April 12: An Arab-American from Detroit this week became the first Muslim woman to sit on a US federal court as judge.

Charlene Mekled Elder sits on the 3rd Circuit Court of Wayne County. Appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Ms Elder, 36, is the first Arab-American female judge in this circuit to speak Arabic fluently.

A US government press release says she is also the first female Muslim to hold a judicial position in the country. Judge Elder brings to the bench a solid legal background and a diverse upbringing. Wayne County has the largest concentration of Arab Americans outside the Middle East, roughly 350,000 and Michigan is home to approximately 400,000 citizens of Muslim faith.—Correspondent

Read Comments

Govt rushes bills in NA, Senate on strength of Supreme Court judges, 5-year term of armed forces' chiefs Next Story