Roopali H Desai, an Indian American litigator, has been confirmed by the US Senate to the country's Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, making her the first South Asian judge to sit on this prestigious court. By a bipartisan vote of 67-29 on Thursday, Desai was confirmed by the Senate.
With 29 active judgeships and a jurisdiction that spans nine states and two territories, the Ninth Circuit, which has its headquarters in San Francisco, California, is by far the largest of the thirteen courts of appeal.
A court of appeals, also known as the appellate court, is a court that can hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal court. In the hierarchy of the judiciary, an appellate court falls above a trial court and below the supreme court, also called the apex (or the top) court.
The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said, “It comes as no surprise that Ms Desai's nomination has received high praise across the political and ideological spectrum, as well as from state judges, law enforcement officials, and three different fire fighters' organisations. With 16 years of experience as a litigator, she is an outstanding addition to the Ninth Circuit.”
Prior to the Senate vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that there is no question in his mind that Desai should be confirmed.
10 things to know about Roopali Desai
1.Desai is a graduate of the Arizona School of Law, from the 2005 batch.
2. She was previously a law chief to Chief Judge Mary M Schroeder of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
3. Desai then partnered with Coppersmith Brockelman in 2013, where she practised law since 2007.
4. The 43-year-old is one of Arizona's top election lawyers, having played a crucial role in protecting her state's elections in 2020.
5. Desai advocated the rights of children in foster care during the pandemic.
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6. Desai will be succeeding Andrew D Hurwitz in her new appointment. He was appointed as a judge on the ninth circuit by former US President Barak Obama in 2001.
7. In 2022, Desai was named among USA Today's Women Of The Year, for her initiatives like launching a voter-approved recreational marijuana program in the state of Arizona.
8. Desai said in her interview that she always knew she wanted to work in a profession that would allow her to give back to the community.
9. Desai is a mother to three daughters- aged four, seven and nine.
10. She has been married for nearly 20 years to an artist.
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