Manpreet Monica Singh becomes first female Sikh judge

Houston Mayor calls it a proud day for the Sikh Community and all people of color

Manpreet Monica Singh has became the first female Sikh judge in the US. She was sworn in as a judge of the Harris County Civil Court at Law No 4 in Texas.

Indian American judge Ravi Sandill, the state’s first South Asian judge presided over the ceremony in a packed courtroom on Friday.

Read: Three Indian American judges take oath in Texas (January 2, 2023)

“Mama we made it! It is a ‘true honor’ to rep the people of Harris County as a Sikh civil court judge,” she wrote in a Facebook post after the event.

“Thank you to everyone for making this a historic moment, one that someday won’t be an uncommon event – because there will be a judiciary that includes countless Sikh people and other minorities. I’m ready to put my 2 decades of experience to good use,” Singh wrote.

“It means a lot to me because I represent H-town (as Houston is nicknamed) the most, so for it to be us, I’m happy for it,” she said at the swearing in ceremony.

Read: Roopali H. Desai becomes first South Asian woman judge on 9th circuit (August 8, 2022)

“I thought it was important for kids, as they go through their education, that they could see that there’s a possibility for professions that we never had access to before,” Singh added.

“It’s a really big moment for the Sikh community,” Sandill said. “When they see someone of color, someone a little different, they know that possibility is available to them. Manpreet is not only an ambassador for Sikhs, but she’s an ambassador for all women of color.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said, “It was a proud day for the Sikh Community, but also a proud day for all people of color who see the diversity of the City of Houston in the diversity of the court.”

Read: Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh becomes first female Sikh judge in US (January 9, 2023)

Singh’s father immigrated to the US in the early 1970s. Born and raised in Houston, she has been a trial lawyer for two decades and remains involved with many civil rights organizations at the local, state and national levels. She presently lives in Bellaire with her husband and two children.

An estimated 500,000 Sikhs live in the US with 20,000 residing in the Houston area.

Read: Here are some of the top Indian American judges (July 23, 2020)