Thapar is the first Indian American to be nominated by the President for a top judicial post
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted 11-8 to send the nomination of US District Judge Amul R. Thapar to the full Senate.
The 47-year-old Indian American was nominated by Trump for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Michigan. He is the first Indian American to be nominated by the President for a top judicial post.
“I join my fellow Kentuckians in congratulating Judge Amul Thapar for being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today. He is now one step closer to being confirmed as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,” Majority leader Mitch McConnell, US Senator for Kentucky, said in a statement after the committee vote.
“Judge Thapar has a distinguished record of public service. He is a well-qualified jurist, and a man of integrity, who will bring a top legal mind to serve on the Sixth Circuit. I look forward to the full Senate confirming this well-respected Kenuckian,” he said.
Since Republicans have a 52-48 majority in the Senate, Thapar is expected to be confirmed irrespective of the strong opposition from Democrats.
The American Bar Association on April 24 gave Thapar their highest ranking of ‘well-qualified’ unanimously.
Thapar became the first South Asian Article judge in 2006 when he was appointed as a US District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He was appointed to the Attorney Generals Advisory Committee (AGAC) and chaired its controlled Substances and Asset Forfeiture subcommittee.