Muslim American appeals court nominee loses Democratic support

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s push to appoint the first Muslim American federal appeals court judge has run into more trouble in the Senate confirmation process, as Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada became the latest Democrat to announce she would not support the nominee.

Adeel Mangi’s bid for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit is one of the most intense judicial confirmation fights this Congress, with conservatives arguing the lawyer has links to anti-police activism and Democrats contending he’s been the target of improper attacks related to his religion.

Democrats, who along with independents hold a 51-49 advantage in the Senate, largely have stuck together to confirm President Joe Biden’s picks for the federal judiciary.

But three Democrats now appear ready to vote against Mangi, a New Jersey resident who was born in Pakistan, graduated from Harvard Law School and is a partner at the firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.

Rosen, in a one-line statement Thursday, said she does not plan on voting to confirm Mangi, given “the concerns I’ve heard from law enforcement in Nevada.”

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., announced last week she would not support Mangi’s nomination, citing his ties to Alliance of Families for Justice, an organization where he is a member of their advisory board.

The organization, Cortez Masto said in a statement, has advocated for the release of people convicted of killing law enforcement officers, and sponsored a fellowship “in the name of” Kathy Boudin, who was a member of the Weather Underground, which the FBI has called a defunct domestic terrorist group.

“Mr. Mangi’s affiliation with the Alliance of Families for Justice is deeply concerning,” Cortez Masto said.

And Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., last week told Politico that he would not support Biden judicial nominees unless they have support from at least one Republican.

No Republicans voted for Mangi’s nomination to advance from the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has mentioned Alliance of Families for Justice in arguing against Mangi’s confirmation.

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