The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania Denounces the Islamophobic Questioning of Third Circuit Court of Appeals Nominee Adeel Mangi

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania (APABA-PA) condemns the baseless and bigoted attacks against the historic nomination of Adeel Mangi to the United State Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which only served to stir Islamophobic hate. If confirmed, Mr. Mangi would be the first Muslim-American to serve on any of the federal courts of appeals in the United States of America, and only the third Muslim-American Federal judge (1). Despite Mr. Mangi’s widespread community support (2) and unlike other federal judicial nominees–who did not face scrutiny for their faith or religious affiliation (3), Mr. Mangi was subjected to aggressive, irrelevant, and offensive questions by Senate Judiciary Committee members about the Israel-Hamas war, and was even interrogated about his personal views on the September 11th terrorist attacks (4).

Such inappropriate and aggressive questioning towards the first Muslim-American federal appellate judicial nominee was motivated by bias towards Muslims (5). Indeed, the White House released a statement calling the attacks against Mr. Mangi a “cruel, Islamophobic, smear campaign.” (6) At a time when Islamophobic hate crimes are on a rise, this line of questioning is especially irresponsible (7).

APABA-PA reiterates its advice to all political officials to avoid making statements steeped in bias, hate, and prejudice, including rhetoric that does nothing to advance discourse (8). Such rhetoric creates a chilling effect, dissuading the next generation of judicial hopefuls and destroying opportunities to build a federal bench that reflects the rich diversity of the United States of America (9).

1. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/muslim-judicial-nominee-adeel-mangi-republicans_n_657c8262e4b08e9b410a2ae3
2. https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/jewish-groups-underscore-support-for-adeel-mangi-to-serve-as-circuit-court-judge
3. https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/adeel-mangi-first-muslim-federal-judge-islamophobia-20240327.html
4. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/muslim-judicial-nominee-adeel-mangi-republicans_n_657c8262e4b08e9b410a2ae3; see also: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-statement-mistreatment-adeel-mangi-senate-judiciary-hearing
5. Id. at https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-statement-mistreatment-adeel-mangi-senate-judiciary-hearing
6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/20/biden-muslim-judge-nominee-republicans-oppose-mangi/
7. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/anti-muslim-incidents-jump-us-amid-israel-gaza-war-2024-01-29/#:~:text=The%20Council%20on%20American%2DIslamic,period%20from%20a%20year%20earlier
8. APABA-PA Statement on Anti-Asian Bias in PA Campaign Rhetoric
9. Id. at https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/adeel-mangi-first-muslim-federal-judge-islamophobia-20240327.html

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