United States’ first female Muslim judge found dead in Hudson River

February 8, 2020
262 Views

A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in New York’s Hudson River on Wednesday, police said.

Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York’s highest court, was found floating off Manhattan’s west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT (1545 GMT), a police spokesman said.Ad

Police pulled Abdus-Salaam’s fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.

Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo named her to the state’s high court in 2013.

“Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all,” Cuomo said in a statement.

The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History said Abdus-Salaam was the first female Muslim to serve as a U.S. judge.

Citing unidentified sources, the New York Post reported that Abdus-Salaam had been reported missing from her New York home earlier on Wednesday. Attempts to reach her family were unsuccessful.

A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School, Abdus-Salaam started her law career with East Brooklyn Legal Services and served as a New York state assistant attorney general, according to the Court of Appeals website.

She held a series of judicial posts after being elected to a New York City judgeship in 1991.

You may be interested

AFCON 2025Q: Benin Republic Hit By Another Injury Blow
Sports
1 views
Sports
1 views

AFCON 2025Q: Benin Republic Hit By Another Injury Blow

Webby - November 13, 2024

Benin Republic will be without two more players for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Nigeria and…

Dier Set To Depart Bayern In Summer
Sports
2 views
Sports
2 views

Dier Set To Depart Bayern In Summer

Webby - November 13, 2024

Eric Dier is likely to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season according to transfer expert and Sky…

‘I Want More’ — Dessers Declares After Scoring 10th Goal For Rangers
Sports
3 views
Sports
3 views

‘I Want More’ — Dessers Declares After Scoring 10th Goal For Rangers

Webby - November 12, 2024

Cyriel Dessers is eager to score more goals for Scottish Premiership club Rangers.The striker has been in impressive form for…

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.