Appointed Wayne Judge Is First To Wear Hijab On Superior Court Bench

WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne attorney will be the first to wear the hijab (Islamic head scarf) on the bench in New Jersey Superior Court, as she was confirmed following a year-long wait.

Nadia Kahf, an immigration and family law attorney from Wayne, will be assigned to the Superior Court's Family Division in Passaic County.

The Supreme Court of New Jersey assigned Kahf to the Passaic Vicinage on March 1, court records show. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on Islamic Relations,of which Kahf is former board chairwoman, celebrated her appointment.

Gov. Phil Murphy nominated her for the state judiciary last March, but her official appointment stalled after Republican state senator Kristin Corrado of Totowa (NJ-40) used what's called "senatorial courtesy" to delay the process, per NorthJersey.com.

More than 700 people signed a petition in support of Kahf, who had law offices in Haledon.

A group called WE CAIR (Coalition for Accountability & Islah-Reform) had asked Corrado to say no to to Kahf's appointment, saying she was silent amid issues of reported abuse and discrimination in both the local and national organizations.

Two other Muslim women, Sharifa Salaam and Kalimah Ahmad, are on the Superior Court bench according to CAIR-NJ.

Judge Ma'isha Aziz, who served on the Borough of Lawnside Municipal Court for seven years, was the first hijabi on any New Jersey bench according to CAIR-NJ.

CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said Kahf has long served the Muslim community in NJ and that her appointment brings the state closer to a more inclusive legal system.

“She brings a wealth of experiences that span across the legal field and meet at the intersections of Muslim and other marginalized communities, and we can’t think of anyone more fit for this position than her," Maksut said in a statement. “Benches and juries must reflect the communities they serve. Nadia’s appointment is a step in the right direction and brings us closer to an inclusive legal system.”