ATAA Congratulates Suleyman Ozerden,
First Turkish American United States Federal Judge

Public Outreach Committee
April 27, 2007

The United States Senate unanimously approved President George Bush’ Turkish American nominee, Halil Suleyman Ozerden to the United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Suleyman “Sul” Ozerden graduated from a very large high school in Mississippi, Gulfport High School, in 1985, at the top of his class. He then attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service on a Navy ROTC scholarship, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1989. He then served six years active duty as a commissioned officer and naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant as an A-6E Intruder bombardier/navigator. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for missions flown over Iraq during Operation Southern Watch and Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, which Turkish forces lead under the leadership of General Cevik Bir.

After his military service, Sul earned his law degree from Stanford Law School, where he served as associate editor for the Stanford Law Review. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Eldon Fallon, U.S. district court judge in New Orleans, before returning home to enter the private practice of law in Gulfport at one of the gulf coast's most respected firms, Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca, where his practice focused on general civil defense litigation, representation of local law enforcement and governmental entities, and commercial transactions and litigation.

Sul is a strong community volunteer. He has served as a mentor in the Gulfport Public School District. He was named ``Volunteer of the Year'' by the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, where he also served on the board of directors -- and as president--of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce. He also served as the president of the Gulfport Business Club. Sul was named as one of the Sun Herald newspaper's ``Top 10 Business Leaders Under 40''. Sul is also active in the St. Peter's By-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

Senator Lott of Mississippi lead the appointment process, thanking President Bush for the nomination, and expressing special appreciation to Senator Leahy of Vermont and ranking member Senator Specter for moving the nomination forward. Senator Lott stated: “I made it a particular point of pronouncing his name and trying to get it correct because this is a very highly qualified nominee but an unusual one. I believe he will probably be the only Turkish American to serve on the Federal judiciary anywhere in America. We didn't select him because of that, but it is a fact. He has an outstanding record, and he will be an outstanding member of the judiciary.”

Judge Ozerden is the son of a Turkish immigrant and leader in the American psychiatric community.