Barack Obama nominates first Muslim federal judge

Barack Obama

Washington: President Barack Obama made history on Tuesday by nominating the first Muslim person to the federal judiciary, Abid Qureshi.

Qureshi is a partner at Latham & Watkins in Washington DC and has been nominated to the US District Court for the District of Columbia. "I am pleased to nominate Mr Qureshi to serve on the United States District Court bench," Obama said in a statement. "I am confident he will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice."

It's unlikely Qureshi's nomination will go anywhere. With just months left in Obama's term, Senate Republicans have all but stopped confirming his judicial picks, but it does have a symbolic value as the current election cycle has gained heavy racial tones.

Obama's last judicial nomination in March, Judge Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court after Antonin Scalia's death has yet to be confirmed as Republicans have vowed not to hold any hearings on the matter.