Dear Senator:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO I write in support of the nomination of Adeel A. Mangi to the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is highly qualified to serve on this court and if confirmed would be the first Muslim to serve as a federal appellate court judge.
Mr. Mangi was born in Karachi, Pakistan. He traveled to England and then the United States to complete his education, having achieved a First Class Degree in Law from the University of Oxford, Pembroke College and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Skills from the City University London Inns of Court School of Law. He then relocated to the United States and earned an L.L.M. from Harvard Law School.
After law school, Mr. Mangi became an associate and later a partner at the New York City firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP where he maintained a highly successful state and federal litigation practice focused in the areas of complex commercial actions, intellectual property, class actions and appellate work. Throughout his career at the firm, Mr. Mangi also has handled an impressive pro bono practice focusing on protecting and advancing important civil rights. His strong pro bono record clearly demonstrates he is deeply committed to equal justice for all and he would bring personal experience and a relatively unique perspective as an immigrant, a perspective that is generally lacking amongst federal judges, historically.
We were upset and disturbed by some of the questions he was subjected to during his committee hearing. Nominees should be evaluated based on their intellectual abilities and a review of their legal careers and not based upon their religion. As the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said in their letter issued shortly after Mr. Mangi’s hearing:
“During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Mangi was subjected to aggressive questioning unrelated to his professional expertise or qualifications. Rather, he was forced to provide responses to a wide range of inquiries regarding his views on global strategic considerations in a manner that inappropriately politicized these issues and raised serious questions regarding pretext and bias.”
https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-statement-mistreatment-adeel-mangi-senate-judiciary-hearing
Judicial nominees should be reviewed based upon professional credentials, their legal career and qualifications. Mr. Mangi’s credentials and career demonstrate that he is imminently qualified to be an appellate judge and we urge his quick confirmation.
Sincerely,
William Samuel
Director, Government Affairs