Washington (Web Desk) U.S. Attorney Nadia Kahf has been appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court, becoming the bench's first hijab-wearing judge, local media reported.
According to the local news website North Jersey, Kahf, a Syrian-born family law, and immigration attorney, took the oath of office on Thursday with his hand on a copy of the Muslim holy book, the Koran.
She will serve as a Passaic County Superior Court judge after being nominated by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy a year ago, according to local media.
While Kahf is not the first Muslim woman to serve as a state judge, she is the first to wear a hijab on the bench.
Since 2003, she has sat on the board of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization where Kahf now serves as chairwoman.
She is also legal counsel for Wafa House, a nonprofit domestic violence and social services organization in Clifton, and chairwoman of the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
