By Aaron Miller-
The nomination of Adeel Mangi,(pictured) poised to become the first Muslim American federal appeals court judge is still facing significant opposition in the Senate, throwing President Joe Biden’s judicial appointment strategy into uncertainty.
Mangi’s bid for a seat on the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is encountering resistance from both Republican and Democratic senators, jeopardizing his confirmation before the upcoming November elections.
The opposition to Mangi’s nomination stems from various quarters, with objections raised by local law enforcement groups and Republicans alike. Accusations of antisemitism and sympathy with terrorists have been levied against him, leading to a contentious confirmation process.
Despite widespread support from civil rights and advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, who labelled the Republican questioning as offensive, Mangi’s confirmation remains in jeopardy.
A coalition of over 125 rights groups on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to stop a sustained wave of Islamophobic attacks against the bright Oxford and Harvard educated legal scholar, and confirm Adeel Mangi, who would be the first Muslim American to serve on a federal appeals court.
Democratic senators, including Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, have expressed concerns over his association with an organization advocating for the release of individuals convicted of killing police officers.
Additionally, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has indicated that he would not support Mangi’s nomination without bipartisan backing.
The significance of Mangi’s nomination lies in the potential to balance the ideological composition of the 3rd Circuit Court, currently skewed in favour of judges nominated by Republican presidents.
With a 7-6 majority, a confirmation of Mangi could tip the scales in favour of Democratic appointees, impacting the court’s future decisions.
The contentious confirmation hearings in December which was characterized by aggressive questioning from Republican senators, have further complicated Mangi’s path to confirmation.
Mangi’s religious affiliation has been weaponized against him, sparking outrage among Democrats who view the attacks as baseless and discriminatory.
Senator Dick Durbin, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, condemned the assault on Mangi as the “most brutal attack” he has witnessed, refuting any allegations of antisemitism. He emphasized that there was no basis for suggesting that Mangi held such views.
The outcome of this battle will not only determine Mangi’s fate but could also greatly impact the future of judicial appointments in the Biden administration.