Christie defends Muslim lawyer picked for judgeship

HAMMONTON — Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday launched into a spirited defense of an attorney he nominated for a Superior Court judgeship after a questioner at a town hall meeting said the lawyer had defended detainees at the Guatanamo facility where suspected terrorists are being held.

“He did not represent Gitmo detainees. He did not,” Christie said of Sohail Mohammed of Clifton. What Sohail Mohammed represented were people who were detained in New Jersey in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11 and were ultimately released for having no involvement in any way with any terrorist activity.”

Mohammed has been the target of web-based rumors about his affiliation with radical Muslims, with some going so far as to say his appointment to the bench would be the first step toward introducing Muslim sharia law to New Jersey. Christie, however, did not waver in his support for Mohammed, an attorney well versed in immigration law.

“I’ve known this man for 10 years,” Christie continued. “He is a good decent American and New Jerseyan. He’s an outstanding lawyer, and he deserves the opportunity to be on the bench. I’m proud to have nominated him and I believe that he’ll ultimately be confirmed and be put on the bench, and our bench will be a better place for it after he’s there.”

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