Local Elected Officials Urge U.S. Senate to Move Forward with Adeel Mangi’s Historic Judicial Nomination, Condemn Islamophobic Attacks

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    March 20, 2024

HARRISBURG, March 20 – A group of Pennsylvania state and local elected officials today issued a statement urging the U.S. Senate to move forward with considering President Joe Biden’s nominee Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia and covers the tri-state area.   

If confirmed, Mangi would become the first Muslim American to serve on a federal appeals court and just the third Muslim American federal judge.   

State Reps. Tarik Khan (D-Phila.), Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny), Patty Kim (D-Dauphin, Cumberland), and Jason Dawkins (D-Phila.); state Sens. Nikil Saval (D-Phila.) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia); Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija and Philadelphia City Councilmember Nina Ahmad said the following:  

“As Asian-American and Muslim-American elected officials representing diverse communities in Pennsylvania, we stand with and strongly support President Biden’s nomination of Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mr. Mangi is an excellent candidate and highly qualified individual whose nomination is now at risk due to a right-wing smear campaign tainted with Islamophobic rhetoric and outright lies.    

“We are extremely disturbed that the nomination of a highly qualified judicial nominee would be in doubt because of the fact he is Muslim. Hate has no place in Pennsylvania or in the judicial system – just look to the image of blindfolded Lady Justice, which reminds us that justice is blind and should not be based on appearance.   

“To quote former President John F. Kennedy, who himself faced prejudice for his faith, ‘I believe the American people are more concerned with a man's views and abilities than with the church to which he belongs.’ The words ring true to this day.   

“We are grateful to President Biden for selecting an excellent and highly qualified candidate, and we urge the U.S. Senate to do the right thing and move forward with President Biden’s nominee Mr. Mangi based on his qualifications and record, not his religion.”