Hamas-linked CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad greets the appointment of the first Muslim judge in Maryland as a sign that Muslims are “having a positive impact on every level of American society”

Original address: http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/640-first-muslim-judge-joins-maryland-district-court.html

Date: July 13, 2012 (Date of an update of the article and likely not the date of the initial publication of this article)

Note: Hassan Ali El-Amin has been judge of the Maryland District Court from July 25, 2000 to October 24, 2011. On October 24, 2011, he was appointed to the Prince George’s County Circuit Court in Maryland.

ORIGINAL TITLE: First Muslim Judge joins Maryland District Court

In what may be a first for Maryland’s Islamic community, a Muslim has been sworn in as a judge of the District Court in that state. (There are only a handful of Muslim judges nationwide.)

“God is merciful, and I pledge to show mercy from the bench – both for the accused and for those who have been wronged,” said Judge Hassan Ali El-Amin.

Imam Yusuf Saleem of Masjid Muhammad in Washington, D.C., gave the invocation at the swearing-in ceremony. A number of judges and court officials at the event praised El-Amin for his integrity and work ethic. Imam W. Deen Muhammed also attended the event.

El-Amin was appointed by Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening. Prior to his appointment, El-Amin worked as a defense attorney in Prince George’s County, Maryland and in the District of Columbia. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University and received a law degree from the University of Maryland.

“Judge El-Amin’s appointment shows that Muslims are entering and having a positive impact on every level of American society,” said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Washington-based Islamic advocacy group. A CAIR representative also attended the swearing-in ceremony.