Chicago – February 25, 2026
India-born lawyer Lubna Qazi Chowdhry has made history as the first Muslim woman appointed Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in New Jersey.
Nominated by Phil Murphy in January 2026 and confirmed by the State Senate, she was sworn in on January 22 by Rachel Wainer Apter of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
With nearly two decades in public service, she has held key civil rights enforcement roles, including at the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
Now set to serve in Newark, she will preside over administrative disputes and appeals involving government agencies.
Born in Kuwait with roots in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, her achievement marks a significant milestone for diversity and representation within the American judiciary.
