The First Pakistani American Judge in The United States

Ms. Pamela Leeming, a Pakistani American, has been appointed as an interim full Circuit Court Judge in Cook County, Illinois. The Pakistani American Community is extremely proud of Pam and her tremendous milestone achievement.  Friends of Pamela Leeming are asking for community support in her bid for an elected seat on the judiciary. “It is time to demonstrate the pride and spirit of our Pakistani heritage by supporting one of our very own”. said Rashid Chaudary a Pakistani local businessman.   Ms. Pamela Leeming, born in Lahore, Pamela Leeming hails from Punjab, Pakistan, She completed her primary education at Pakistan Embassy School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and her high school in St. Deny’s High School, Murree, Pakistan. She graduated from high school in Chicago and attended University of Illinois. She earned her Doctorate of Juris Prudence degree from John Marshall School of Law. Pam has been appointed to the Bench as a full circuit court Judge in Cook County. She was Sworn-in on December 1, 2009 by The Illinois Supreme Court. When she was sworn-in at the Illinois Supreme Court, Ms. Leeming has become the first Pakistani-American Judge in Illinois and the entire United States of America. She is also serving as the only Asian American full Circuit Court judge in Cook County, who will have voting rights in the Associate Judge appointments. Pamela Leeming, had been working hard to be appointed to the bench as an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County for many years. She was on the short list for an associate judge in 2008. She is currently running for judge in the upcoming democratic primary to be held on February 2, 2010.

As a veteran of the Cook County public defender’s office, Ms. Leeming has devoted her entire legal career to public service. She has practiced law with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office for nearly 20 years.   She is an accomplished lawyer who has represented clients in the felony courts, Juvenile Justice, Appellate Court, First District, the Federal District Court, Northern District, and the 7th Circuit Court of Review. She has argued 16 oral argument before the Appellate Courts including in the Illinois Supreme Court. Ms. Leeming is the founder of the first ever Pakistani American Bar in the United States, and has served on the boards of the Asian American Bar Association and the North American South Asian Bar. She also currently serves as the secretary of the Asian American Bar and co-chairs its CLE committee.