Chicago – August 16, 2026
Assma Ali, a Yemeni-American Muslim attorney, has made history after being sworn in as a municipal court judge in Benoit, Mississippi, becoming the first Muslim woman to serve as a judge in the state, according to reports.
Ali, the daughter of Yemeni immigrants, was sworn in on August 5 after being appointed to the municipal court in the small Mississippi Delta town, which has fewer than 400 residents. She has practiced law in Mississippi for nearly a decade after earning her law degree in 2017.
Her appointment has attracted widespread attention, particularly because she wears the hijab and is of Yemeni heritage. Reports say she has faced criticism and online harassment from some opponents, including claims questioning her suitability for judicial office.
Ali has said she hopes to be given the opportunity to serve the people of Benoit and pledged to carry out her judicial responsibilities with fairness and respect for the law.
