Indian-American sworn in as judge of top US court

Trailblazer legal luminary Sri Srinivasan, with a hand on the Gita, today scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American to be sworn in as a judge of the second most powerful court in the US.
Chandigarh-born Srinivasan, 46, was sworn in at an overflowing court room of US Courts of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, in presence of legal luminaries, family and friends, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur.
Kaur, literally drove off directly from the airport, with a brief stopover at the hotel, to be in time for the swearing in ceremony of the Indian-American.

Srinivasan took the oath of office on the Gita with his mother Saroja Srinivasan holding the holy book for him.
It was in May this year that Srinivasan was confirmed by the US Senate by a huge 97-0 vote.
Srinivasan, whose parents migrated to the US in 1970s, is the first South Asian-American to serve as a circuit court judge in American history.

The retired Supreme Court justice O'Connor described Srinivasan "fair, faultless and fabulous." He once clerked for her.
Addressing the gathering, Srinivasan acknowledged the contribution of his parents and family on his achievements.
Srinivasan was first nominated by US President Barack Obama on June 11, 2012.

His nomination was returned to the President on January 2 due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate but later on January 3, 2013, Obama re-nominated him for the same office.
Srinivasan's appointment is a testimony to his credibility and calibre as a brilliant legal luminary of the US. He was previously the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the US.
Srinivasan is a highly-respected appellate advocate who has spent a distinguished career litigating before the US Supreme Court and the US Courts of Appeals, both on behalf of the US and in private practice.
Born in India to Indian parents, Srikanth "Sri" Srinivasan's well-deserved rise to the top echelons of the American judiciary - the first by an Indian-American to such a position - is a matter of great pride and satisfaction for India and the Indian-American community.

It is also yet another proof of the sterling contributions of the community to US society and indeed to India-US relations.
Srinivasan began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for Judge J Harvie Wilkinson on the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1995 to 1996.