President Barack Obama nominated Birmingham attorney Abdul Kallon '90 on Friday to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, according to a White House press release.
A partner at the Alabama law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Kallon specializes in employment, labor and affirmative action law, according to the firm's web site. Kallon has worked for the firm since 1994.
Kallon and other representatives of the law firm did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Kallon began working at the law firm following a clerkship with Judge U.W. Clemon Alabama's first black federal judge. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kallon would fill Clemon's seat.
U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, convened a committee of legal experts that recommended Kallon to succeed Clemon in February. Following this announcement, Clemon released a statement stating that, in his opinion, Kallon was "eminently qualified" to take his place.
"From his outstanding performance, first as my law clerk and subsequently as a lawyer, I am supremely confident that [Kallon] will bring to the bench a heightened sense of justice, fairness and mercy," Clemon's statemeant reads.
Davis lauded Kallon's service to his community in a statement that praised President Obama for accepting the recommendation.
"Kallon chose Birmingham as his home almost 17 years ago and since then he has contributed as a civic leader and as a practicing attorney," Davis wrote. "His peers know him as one of the most brilliant young lawyers in the entire state. I was honored to recommend him to the White House as a federal judge and I look forward to seeing the excellence that he will bring to the federal bench. As a friend, I am also very proud of him."
Kallon is the past president of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham and was rated as "well-qualified" by the American Bar Association, their highest designation. At Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Kallon has represented businesses and other employers in federal and state courts in various areas, including defending them against claims of discrimination, harassment, failure to comply with the Family Medical Leave Act and wrongful termination, according to the law firm's web site. He also counsels employers and conducts seminars on how to comply with policies governing harassment, discrimination, immigration and affirmative action.
Kallon is also active in Birmingham-area philanthropy. His service to the Birmingham community includes time as president of the Board of Directors of Children's Village and Vice-Chairperson of the Sister Cities of Birmingham. Kallon is a member of the Board of Directors of Girls Inc., the Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education, and the Bethel Baptist Historic Community Restoration Fund.
Kallon graduated from the College with a degree in history and earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1993.
The communications offices of the White House and Senate Judiciary Committee did not respond to requests for comment regarding whether Kallon is likely to be confirmed or when his nomination might go before the Senate.
