US President Donald Trump has nominated Shireen Mathews, an Indian-American lawyer, to be a federal judge. She is a partner with the elite law firm Jones Day, where she specialises in white-collar crimes.

Before that, she was an assistant federal prosecutor in California serving as the coordinator for criminal healthcare fraud cases. Her nomination to Southern California Southern District federal court in San Diego was announced on Wednesday by the White House and her appointment has to be approved by the Senate. Mathews is the sixth Indian-American nominated to the federal judiciary at various levels by Trump. South Asia Bar Association (SABA) President Aneesh called it “a historic nomination” and urged “the Senate to quickly confirm her, adding another deserving South Asian voice to the judiciary.” Ms Mathews has served on SABA North America board of directors.