Indian judges presiding over western courtrooms

Shaping rights and justice in Western democracies

Indian-origin judges living abroad are shaping judicial systems around the world, notably in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, influencing key debates on rights, governance and the rule of law through landmark rulings.

Across courts in the United States and the United Kingdom, judges of Indian origin are quietly playing an important role in shaping modern jurisprudence. From constitutional rights and government power to criminal law and civil liberties, their rulings are influencing how democracies interpret the rule of law.

Sri Srinivasan Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia Circuit)

Sri Srinivasan is one of the most influential judges in the United States. Born in 1967 in Chandigarh in northern India, he moved to the United States as a child. He studied at Stanford University, graduating in 1989 and later earned a law degree and MBA from Stanford in 1995.

He serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often called the country’s second-most powerful court after the Supreme Court. The court handles major cases involving the United States government, including challenges to presidential powers, federal agencies and national policies.

In 2016, Srinivasan was considered by President Barack Obama as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States after the death of Antonin Scalia, Obama nominated Merrick Garland instead.

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Arun Subramanian, United States District Judge

Arun Subramanian made history in 2023 when he became the first Indian-origin judge on the prestigious Southern District of New York (SDNY) court. He was born in the US to Indian parents in 1979.

Subramanian studied at Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 2001 and completed his law degree at Columbia Law School in 2004. Before becoming a judge, he worked as a top trial lawyer and also clerked for US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The SDNY handles some of America’s most high-profile criminal and financial cases. Subramanian’s rulings deal with issues such as corporate crime, civil rights, and criminal justice reforms. His work reflects a strong focus on due process and equal treatment under the law.

Rabinder Singh, Court of Appeal, UK

Rabinder Singh is one of the most respected judges in the field of human rights law in the United Kingdom. Born in 1964 in Delhi, he moved to the UK where he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and completed further legal training in the UK and the US.

In 2017, Singh was been promoted to the UK Court of Appeal, becoming the first Indian-origin Judge to be promoted to the post. His judgments often deal with civil liberties, privacy, freedom of expression and the limits of state power.

Singh has also served as President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which hears complaints about government surveillance. His work has helped shape how British courts balance national security with individual rights in a digital age.

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Mahmud Jamal, Supreme Court of Canada

Mahmud Jamal made history in 2021 when he became the first person of colour and first Muslim judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. He was born in Kenya to Indian parents and later moved to Canada.

He studied at the University of Toronto, where he completed his undergraduate degree and earned his law degree from Yale Law School in 1996. Before joining the Supreme Court, he served on the Ontario Court of Appeal, one of Canada’s most important appellate courts.

Justice Jamal’s rulings often focus on constitutional rights, criminal law, and access to justice. On the Supreme Court, his judgments help shape national debates on civil liberties, fair trials, and the limits of state power. His appointment is widely seen as a milestone for diversity and representation in Canada’s highest court.

Dame Bobbie Cheema-Grubb, High Court Judge, UK

Dame Bobbie Cheema-Grubb is a prominent Indian-origin judge in the United Kingdom. She was born in the UK to Indian parents and built a long legal career before being appointed to the High Court of England and Wales in 2020.

She studied law in the UK and was called to the Bar, later becoming a Queen’s Counsel (QC) a senior rank awarded to top advocates. Before becoming a judge, she handled many serious criminal cases, including terrorism and national security matters.

As a High Court judge, she  hears complex cases involving criminal justice, human rights, and public law. Her judgments influence how British courts balance security concerns with individual freedoms. She is also seen as a role model for women and minorities in the UK legal system.

In 2025, she  was a judge at the trial of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, whom she sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for taking pro-Russia bribes.