My last article on Twisted Attacks introduced the consequence of the political swing to the right, which is constructing a problematic judiciary. It focuses on the difficulties—in the current political climate–of appointing nonwhite justices in particular and social justice-oriented jurists in general. We continue here with more excerpts from Adeel Mangi’s long letter to President Biden about his treatment by Republican senators and related actors in thwarting his confirmation as an Appeals Court Judge.
Mangi continues:
The attacks on me were condemned by almost 50 pro bono partners and chairs at leading law firms and legal organizations, over 125 civil rights groups, and dozens of bar associations. They were meticulously exposed in many newspapers, including two op-eds in the New York Times (first and second) and in the New Yorker. A historical parallel was drawn in The Atlantic to the attacks on Thurgood Marshall, and the attack campaign was decried in columns by prominent Muslim Americans, e.g. on CNN and MSNBC, and by Jewish Americans.
My home-state newspaper of record in New Jersey, The Star Ledger, wrote five editorials: “GOP to NJ judge pick: Muslims need not apply”; “Ugly lies about antisemitism and terrorism: GOP smears NJ judge pick”; “Cowering in the face of anti-Muslim bigotry: Shame on Democrats,” “First bigotry, now lies: This judge pick deserves better;” and “A MAGA judge for N.J.? You can thank Democrats.”
A highly respected Republican-appointed former judge of the Third Circuit wrote and spoke out in my support. And these attacks were demolished by John Oliver who concluded: “As with the Islamophobic attacks on Mangi, the evidence that he is somehow antipolice are laughably thin. It’s yet more six degree of separation nonsense.” Yet it was three Democratic Senators who surrendered to this campaign.
Two allied Senators from a state far from the Third Circuit announced their opposition ostensibly based on the attacks claiming I am against law enforcement. I will not assume the worst possible motivation for their embrace of this attack. But to me that leaves two possibilities: that these Senators lack the wisdom to discern the truth, which exposes a catastrophic lack of judgment; or they used my nomination to court conservative voters in an election year, which exposes a catastrophic lack of principle. One reportedly made the decision based on fear of an attack ad—and apparently not for the first time.
Meanwhile, a third Senator literally handed control of his vote to Republicans. To fetishize bipartisanship amidst an outrageous attack campaign is not a virtue – it is a preening abandonment of morality. But ultimately, none of these Senators had to reach a final decision and vote. Resurgent efforts after the election towards confirmation were derailed by the deal in the Senate that denied all circuit nominees a vote. My family and I were put through this astonishing prolonged process and yet in the end denied even a vote requiring Senators to show who they are. The strength of the Senate’s collective commitment to principle stands revealed.
Our country faces an incoming tsunami of bigotry, hatred, and discrimination. It targets Muslims, Arabs, Jews, Black people, the LGBTQ+ community, and many others. And it always pretends to be something other than what it is. These forcare fueled not only by their proponents, but equally by the collaboration and silence of the spineless. They can be defeated only by those who lead voters with courage, not those who sacrifice principles for votes.
Adeel Mangi ended his letter as follows:
Thank you [Mr. President] for the principled and steadfast support that the White House nominations team provided to me throughout this process. That team is the embodiment of true and honorable public service. Thank you also for your historic support of exceptional judicial candidates who happen to be from minority communities. I am grateful for the unprecedented coalition of bar associations, lawyers, Attorneys General, unions, mayors, religious groups, civil rights organizations, the City Council of Jersey City, and countless individual citizens, who demanded my confirmation. And I am deeply appreciative of the support I received from minority law enforcement groups around the country, including those in New York and New
Jersey, who acted with courage based on facts.
To return to President Eisenhower’s words, Americans must now look at the story of this nomination, and ask themselves: is this who we are now? For my children, I hope America one day lives up to President Eisenhower’s promise, even if not today. For my part, I entered this nomination process as a proud American and a proud Muslim. I exit it the same way, unbowed.
Respectfully Yours
Adeel A. Mangi
