WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, following the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on judicial nominations, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (D-NJ), and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) applauded the advancement of the nominations of Julien Neals and Magistrate Judge Zahid Quraishi to serve on the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.
WATCH SEN. BOOKER’S REMARKS HERE
“Today, I applaud this committee for advancing two exceptionally qualified nominees, Julien Neals and Magistrate Judge Zahid Quraishi, who are dedicated to justice, fairness, and the law, to serve on the U.S. District Court of New Jersey,” said Sen. Booker during today’s hearing. “Mr. Neals and Judge Quraishi are both highly qualified, highly skilled, and experienced attorneys who understand how important the federal judiciary is for the people of New Jersey and our country. Their unique perspectives are needed on the federal bench now more than ever. I want to again thank President Biden for nominating Julien Neals and Judge Zahid Quraishi, and I look forward to their confirmations by the full Senate.”
“I am pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nominations of Julien Neals and Magistrate Judge Zahid Quraishi to serve on the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. They are both outstanding, highly qualified individuals who represent the best of New Jersey and our state’s values, while also reflecting the state’s proud and rich diversity,” said Sen. Menendez. “I am confident that Mr. Neals and Judge Quraishi will administer fair and impartial justice and serve the residents of New Jersey well. I urge their swift confirmation by the full Senate so we can meaningfully address the judicial emergency facing New Jersey’s federal courts after Senate Republicans and President Trump refused for years to fill longstanding vacancies.”
In addition to Mr. Neals and Judge Quraishi, President Biden has also nominated Christine P. O’Hearn and Karen M. Williams to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey over the course of the last month. If confirmed, Judge Quraishi will be the first Muslim American Article III federal judge.
Senator Booker has served on the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2018. He has been a leader in the Senate on criminal justice and policing reform since he was first elected in 2013. Booker has introduced numerous criminal justice reform proposals, including: the Marijuana Justice Act, the Fair Chance Act, the CARERS Act, the MERCY Act, the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, the Second Look Act, and the Justice in Policing Act. He was also a key architect of the most sweeping overhaul of the criminal justice system in decades, the First Step Act, which was signed into law in 2018.
