Trump Interviews Neomi Jehangir Rao For Judge Post: Know Her

US President Donald Trump has interviewed Neomi Jehangir Rao to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the powerful federal appeals court in Washington, DC, as per reports. 45-year-old Rao, an Indian-American, is currently administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Who is Neomi Jehangir Rao?

• Rao was born to Zerin Rao and Jehangir Narioshang Rao. Both her parents are Parsi physicians from India. She grew up in Michigan and completed her schooling from Detroit High School.
• The administrator practised public international law and arbitration at Clifford Chance LLP in London. She received her JD with high honours from the University of Chicago. Rao has also pursued her BA from Yale University.

• Rao has previously served in all three branches of the federal government. She served as Associate Counsel to President George W Bush. Besides, she was appointed counsel for nominations and constitutional law to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary. She has also served as law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of US Supreme Court.

• As per sources, Trump is keen on Rao so that he can appoint a minority woman to Kavanaugh’s old job.
• The Senate, with a 54-41 vote in July 2017, appointed Rao to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. This agency reviews executive branch regulations, a task the DC Circuit often addresses.

Kavanaugh, before being sworn in as the US Supreme Court Judge, faced trial for sexual misconduct allegations. He was earlier a judge at the United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

If reports are to be believed, Rao is all set to embrace the position, which has now has fallen vacant. In December last year, Trump had praised Rao’s contribution in cutting down regulations.

Featured image credit: George Mason University official website