Historic Muslim Appellate Pick Advances Despite Republican Anger

Partisan tensions flared at a Senate Judiciary meeting where Democrats advanced a nominee who’d be the first Muslim federal appellate judge despite fierce Republican objection characterized as a “new low” for the committee.

The Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 on Thursday to send the nomination of Adeel Mangi for a New Jersey seat on the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to the full Senate for consideration.

Prior to the vote, Republicans renewed their sharp criticism of Mangi that began at his confirmation hearing Dec. 13, and called his responses to their initial inquiries and follow-up questions unsatisfactory. ...