WASHINGTON, April 12: An Arab-American from Detroit this week became the first Muslim woman to sit on a US federal court as judge.

Charlene Mekled Elder sits on the 3rd Circuit Court of Wayne County. Appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Ms Elder, 36, is the first Arab-American female judge in this circuit to speak Arabic fluently.

A US government press release says she is also the first female Muslim to hold a judicial position in the country. Judge Elder brings to the bench a solid legal background and a diverse upbringing. Wayne County has the largest concentration of Arab Americans outside the Middle East, roughly 350,000 and Michigan is home to approximately 400,000 citizens of Muslim faith.—Correspondent