1st Sikh woman judge in US sworn in at Texas
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Houston: An Indian-origin woman got elevated as the first female Sikh judge in the US. Judge Manpreet Monica Singh was sworn in as a Harris County Civil Court judge at Law No. 4 in Texas on Friday, PTI reported.
Monica Singh was born and raised in Houston and now lives in Bellaire with her husband and two children. Her father immigrated to the US in the early 1970s. A trial lawyer for 20 years, she has been involved in numerous civil rights organizations at the local, state, and national levels.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony, she said, "It means a lot to me because I represent H-town (a nickname of Houston) the most, so for it to be us, I'm happy for it."
Indian-American Judge Ravi Sandill, the state's, and the country's, first South Asian judge, presided over the ceremony, which took place in a packed courtroom.
Sandil said, "It's a really big moment for the Sikh community. When they see someone of colour, someone a little different, they know that possibility is available to them. Manpreet is not only an ambassador for Sikhs, but she's an ambassador for all women of colour."
In the US, there are an estimated 5,00,000 Sikhs, and 20,000 are living in the Houston area.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said, "It was a proud day for the Sikh Community, but also a proud day for all people of Colour who see the Diversity of the City of Houston in the Diversity of the Court".