Zia Faruqui

Zia M. Faruqui is a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Columbia, appointed on September 14, 2020.1 He received both his B.A. and J.D. from Georgetown University.1 Prior to his appointment as a judge, Faruqui served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 12 years, focusing on national security and cybercrime prosecutions.23

Judge Faruqui has a diverse legal background:

1. He worked as a litigation associate at Willkie Farr in Washington, D.C., concentrating on government investigations and commercial litigation.1
2. As a federal prosecutor, he handled cases involving cryptocurrency use by terrorists, North Korean weapons proliferation, darknet child exploitation sites, and antiquities theft.1
3. He represented the Department of Justice at global conferences on financial crimes, cryptocurrency, and national security issues.1

In his role as a Magistrate Judge, Faruqui has:

• Presided over various federal criminal and civil matters, including U.S. Capitol insurrection cases.2
• Led efforts to reform the criminal justice system, including co-presiding over D.C.'s Reentry Court.2
• Established a program offering cognitive behavioral therapy to those re-entering society.2
• Worked on expanding educational opportunities at the D.C. Jail.2
• Spearheaded the hiring of the court's first in-house social worker.2

Judge Faruqui is notable for being the first Muslim judge appointed to the Federal Court in Washington D.C.2 He has been involved in diversity and inclusion efforts, including serving as the Muslim-Arab outreach coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's office.2