Zia M. Faruqui is an American federal judge, former prosecutor, and legal scholar serving as a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appointed in September 2020, he made history as the first Muslim and first Pakistani American to hold a federal judgeship on that bench.
Zia M. Faruqui Wiki-Bio
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Zia Mustafa Faruqui |
| Profession | United States Magistrate Judge, Attorney, Legal Scholar |
| Other Roles | Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University; Adjunct Professor, Harris-Stowe State University |
| Hometown / Raised In | Baltimore area, Maryland, USA |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Pakistani-American |
Education
| Institution | Qualification |
| Georgetown University | B.A. (Bachelor of Arts), 2001 |
| Georgetown University Law Center | Juris Doctor (J.D.), 2004 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | Adjunct Professor — Criminal Rehabilitation |
| Georgetown University | Adjunct Professor — Constitutional Law |
Table of Contents
Zia M. Faruqui Background
Early Life Story
Zia M. Faruqui was born and raised in the Baltimore area of Maryland as a first-generation Pakistani American. His parents immigrated to the United States from Pakistan, and their journey shaped his values around public service and community responsibility from an early age.
Growing up as a Muslim American in the United States, Faruqui navigated the cultural and social complexities that come with belonging to a minority community. He has spoken publicly about feeling out of place during his early legal education and career — experiences that later motivated him to actively support programs helping first-generation and minority law students find their footing in the legal profession.
The September 11, 2001 attacks had a significant impact on his generation and his sense of purpose. Faruqui would go on to dedicate over a decade to national security prosecution, working to protect the country while also ensuring constitutional protections were upheld for all people.
Family Background
Faruqui’s parents, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and wife are all first-generation immigrants to the United States. He has spoken openly on platforms including United Nations International Migrants Day about the sacrifices his family made in building a new life in America, citing their courage as the driving force behind his commitment to public interest law and pro bono service. 1
His wife is a medical doctor. The couple’s shared commitment to professional service — one in medicine, one in law — reflects the values instilled by their immigrant families.
Education
Faruqui completed both his undergraduate and law degrees at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in 2001 and went on to complete his Juris Doctor at Georgetown University Law Center in 2004.
Professional Journey
After graduating from Georgetown Law in 2004, Faruqui joined the Washington, D.C. office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as a litigation associate. For four years, he handled government investigations and commercial litigation. During this period, he also took on significant pro bono work, representing survivors of domestic violence and unhoused individuals seeking access to public benefits — early signs of a career defined by public interest alongside professional ambition.
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