Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
by Geeta Goindi
WASHINGTON, June 17 – There were accolades galore for Sri Srinivasan, the first South Asian American judge in the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit which is the second most powerful court in the US after the Supreme Court. The Chandigarh-born, 46-year-old judge was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor earlier in the day, following Senate confirmation by a vote of 97-0, on May 23.
President Obama has called him “a trailblazer who personifies the best of America”.
Ambassador Rao from India, who hosted the reception for Srinivasan said, “We know about the Indian-American community and the extraordinary successes and achievements that they exemplify, and to me, Sri personifies that and much more. Here he is, at a relatively young age, he has achieved such great things”.
On hand, at the reception to celebrate Srinivasan’s success story, were: Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard (Democrat-Hawaii) and Grace Meng (Democrat – New York); Congressmen Ami Bear (Democrat-California), Mike Honda (Democrat-California) and Michael Grimm (Republican-New York); US Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr.; Dr. Rajan Natarajan, Maryland Deputy Secretary of State for Policy and External Affairs; Indian-American community activists and stalwarts; and members of the press and media.
Srinivasan told the gathering, “I know this occasion is meant to commemorate my confirmation, but it is due to so many of you who are here today. I would like, on behalf of our family, to express our gratitude to all of you for the instrumental roles you played in this process”, he said. “All of you were essential and I am incredibly humbled and honored by my confirmation and by the tremendous support that all of you have given to me and my family”.
