USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh, a trial lawyer for 20 years, was sworn in as a judge of the Harris County Civil Court, making her the first female Sikh judge in the United States. Singh was appointed as the judge at Harris County Civil Court No. 4 in Texas. According to reports, during the oath ceremony, Singh said, “It means a lot to me because I represent H-town (a nickname of Houston) the most, so for it to be us, I’m happy for it”.
The report also stated that the oath event that was held in a courtroom was presided over by the first South Asian judge of the state, Indian-American Judge Ravi Sandill. According to Sandill, this is a momentous occasion for the Sikh community. He added that when they see a person of color or someone who is somewhat different, they realize that opportunity is open to them. Manpreet is not just a representative for Sikhs, but for all women of color as well.
Following her victory as the first female Sikh judge of the US, she expressed her happiness in a Facebook post. She wrote, “Mama we made it! It is a “real honor” to serve as a Sikh civil court judge in Harris County. Thank you to everyone for making today a momentous occasion, one that will one day be commonplace, as the judiciary will include numerous Sikhs and other minorities. I am prepared to utilize my two decades of knowledge.”
According to statistics, there are around 500,000 Sikhs in the United States, with 20,000 residing in the Houston metropolitan region. However, to date, there has been no female Sikh judge in the country. According to the Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, it was a proud moment for the Sikh community as well as for all people of color who see the diversity of the city of Houston reflected in the diversity of the court.
Manpreet Monica Singh, who was born and raised in Houston, resides in Bellaire with her husband and two kids. In the early 1970s, Singh’s father, who is an architect, moved to the United States after receiving a green card under the Immigration Act of 1965. Monica attended Klein Forest High School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the South Texas College of Law after growing up in Northwest Houston. She also became the runner-up for Houston Young Lawyers Association Most Outstanding Attorney in 2010 and the recipient of the Distinguished Member Award from the South Asian Bar Association in 2017.
Apart from her 20 years of experience in law career and trying more than 100 cases, Singh is also engaged in various local, state, and national civil rights groups. Further, she serves on the boards of directors of the Texas ACLU, the Texas Lyceum, and the Sikh Coalition, serving as trustee. In addition, she is a chapter representative for the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates and an active lecturer for the Texas Bar CLE programs.
According to her website, she and her husband Mandeep have been married for around 19 years. Moreover, as a woman of color, she is all too aware of the systems of inequality and sympathetic to the difficulties faced by the average American. In November 2021, Singh announced her candidacy on Twitter. She wrote, “Today I am excited and proud to announce my candidacy for Judge of the Harris County Civil County Court at Law No. 4. As a native Houstonian, it is my hope to represent my community that prizes diversity and servant leadership.” She added, “It is an honor to be able to represent our community. I hope I have the blessing of all Sikhs around the world”.
