The New Jersey judiciary has gained a seasoned legal voice with the appointment of Indian American attorney Lubna Qazi-Chowdhry as a state administrative law judge.
New Jersey’s first female Muslim judge, Qazi-Chowdhry was sworn in late last month, marking a new chapter in a career defined by public service and a commitment to equitable justice.
Nominated by Governor Philip D. Murphy on Jan. 6, Qazi-Chowdhry received swift confirmation from the State Senate. She took her oath of office on Jan. 22 before New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Rachel Wainer Apter.
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Born in Kuwait, she traces her roots to the Raigad district in Maharashtra’s Konkan region of India. She spent her early childhood in Kuwait before moving to the United States in 1990. In 2005, she relocated to New Jersey.
Now presiding in Newark, Qazi-Chowdhry, a 2005 graduate of Western State College of Law, steps into a role that sits at the intersection of government policy and individual rights.
The path to the bench for Qazi-Chowdhry began far from the East Coast. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine, she moved to Western State College of Law in Southern California.
It was here, she recalls, that her professional identity began to take shape. She credits much of her drive to the influence of her former professors, specifically citing the mentorship of Professors Jenkins and Romney as the catalyst for her devotion to the public sector.
Her resume reflects a lawyer who has navigated nearly every corner of the legal system. Before her judicial elevation, Qazi-Chowdhry’s experience spanned private practice and significant roles within federal and state agencies.
Her portfolio includes work in civil rights, matrimonial law, and health law, fields that require not only a deep understanding of statutes but also a high degree of empathy for the people behind the paperwork.
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Colleagues and mentors describe her as a “bridge-builder,” a trait bolstered by her multilingual abilities. In a state as diverse as New Jersey, the ability to communicate across cultural and linguistic barriers is more than an asset; it is a necessity for maintaining public trust in the courts.
Her appointment is being celebrated by her alma mater as a testament to the national reach of its graduates. For Qazi-Chowdhry, however, the new role is less about the title and more about the responsibility.
As she begins her tenure in Newark, she carries with her the lessons of her California education and a career-long mission to ensure that the administrative process remains accessible to all citizens.
In an era where the judiciary is under constant scrutiny, Qazi-Chowdhry’s background suggests a judge who understands that the law is not just a set of rules, but a tool for service. Her ascent to the bench serves as a reminder of how mentorship and a broad professional foundation can shape a legacy of leadership in the public interest.