Senate confirms Amul Thapar to key judicial post

Amul Thapar, an Indian-American legal luminary and US President Donald Trump's first nominee to a powerful appeals court, has been confirmed by the US Senate to the key judicial position. Thapar, the first Indian-American to be nominated by Trump for the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals, was confirmed by the Senate 52-44 in a vote on party lines.

With this, 48-year-old Thapar becomes the second South Asian judge to be on the US Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan. "Judge Thapar will make an outstanding addition to the US Appeals Court for the Sixth Circuit," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday.Thapar, currently a US District Court Judge, was nominated by Trump on March 21.

The South Asian Bar Association of North America also congratulated Thapar.