Adeel Mangi faces opposition within the party over law enforcement concerns

Adeel Mangi, President Joe Biden’s nominee for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, faces dwindling chances of confirmation as the third Democrat in the U.S. Senate, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, announced her opposition. Mangi, who could become the nation’s first Muslim federal appeals court judge, has seen his path to confirmation narrow significantly after this latest setback.

Rosen’s decision, driven by concerns voiced by Nevada’s law enforcement community, follows similar announcements from Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Cortez Masto cited Mangi’s association with a criminal justice reform group, while Manchin’s stance aligns with his policy of fostering bipartisanship, requiring that judicial nominees gain at least one Republican vote for his support.

The opposition from within his own party places Mangi’s nomination in jeopardy in the tightly divided Senate, where Democrats hold a slim 51-49 majority. Without bipartisan support or a change in the current stance of these Democrats, Mangi’s confirmation seems unlikely.

Mangi’s nomination has been contentious, drawing criticism from several law enforcement groups including the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Association of Police Organizations. These groups have expressed concerns over Mangi’s involvement with the Alliance of Families for Justice, a detail that has significantly influenced the stance of some Democratic senators.

Despite these challenges, the White House has defended Mangi against what it describes as Islamophobic smears from Republican opponents, highlighting his professional achievements and endorsements from various law enforcement organizations. These endorsements aim to counteract the narrative that Mangi is anti-police, a sentiment echoed by White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, who has called for Mangi’s swift confirmation.

Mangi’s views on sensitive topics such as the Israel-Hamas war and the September 11 attacks have also been scrutinized, further complicating his nomination. The Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative advocacy group, has targeted Mangi with ads labelling him as antisemitic, aimed at swaying Democratic senators.

If confirmed, Mangi would contribute to balancing the ideological split within the 3rd Circuit, restoring a 7-7 divide among judges appointed by presidents from both major parties. This potential shift underscores the high stakes involved in his nomination and the broader implications for the judiciary’s composition.