Washington: Sri Srinivasan, an Indian-American judge will be leading a powerful federal circuit court considered next only to the US Supreme Court.
Srinivasan, 52, became the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on 12 February.He was appointed to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in May 2013.
An Obama appointee who has already been considered for a Supreme Court seat twice is the first Indian-American to be appointed to the second most powerful court of the US. Neomi Rao, nominated by President Donald Trump, is the second Indian American on this powerful judiciary bench.
According to a press release, Srinivasan has succeeded Judge Merrick Garland, who has been a member of the DC Circuit since 1997 and Chief Judge since 2013.
“History being made on the DC Court of Appeals. Congratulations, Judge Srinivasan!” Senator Mark Warner said.
“Congratulations to Judge Sri Srinivasan on becoming the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.A milestone for the Indian-American,” US Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai said.
“Everybody doubts their belonging and worthiness in some measure. I definitely did and still do. This is just going to be a part of the thing when you’re looking out in the world in which everyone isn’t like you. It’s natural to doubt whether you belong and whether you’re worthy”, Srinivasan said, “but you do belong and you are worthy.”
From 2011 until his appointment to the US Court of Appeals, Judge Srinivasan served as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States. He has argued 25 cases before the US Supreme Court. He has also taught appellate advocacy at Harvard Law School as well as a seminar on civil rights statutes and the Supreme Court at Georgetown University Law Center.