Nicole Berner and Adeel Mangi Will Be the Judges Our Nation Deserves

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McNeil, [email protected]

WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on judicial nominations, including the nomination of Nicole Berner to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Maryland) and Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (New Jersey):

“As they demonstrated during today’s hearing, Nicole Berner and Adeel Mangi will be phenomenal and fair-minded federal judges. Throughout their accomplished legal careers, both nominees have shown a sincere dedication to civil and human rights that our federal courts need.

“Their long records of commitment to equal justice are commendable. Nicole Berner is a brilliant lawyer who has devoted her career to the protection of our fundamental rights, including the rights of working people, reproductive rights, and the rights of LGBTQ people. Adeel Mangi has extensive pro bono experience in civil rights, including protecting religious freedom and fighting discrimination against Muslim communities. This is the kind of critical but underrepresented civil rights expertise that will greatly benefit the federal judiciary and strengthen our democracy.

“These nominees will also bring significant lived experiences to the bench. Ms. Berner will be the first openly LGBTQ judge to serve on the Fourth Circuit. Mr. Mangi will be the first Muslim judge to serve on any federal appeals court in the nation. This diversity matters for strengthening trust in our judiciary — and we celebrate these long overdue milestones.

“We thank Chair Durbin for holding today’s hearing, and we’re grateful to the senators who championed these highly qualified nominees. The Leadership Conference urges the Senate to quickly confirm them and to continue the urgent work of building an equal justice judiciary that works for all.”

Read The Leadership Conference’s letters in support of Nicole Berner and Adeel Mangi.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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