Sinema & Lee Introduce the Critical Mineral Consistency Act

With the Committee's strong approval, Desai's nomination now heads to the U.S. Senate floor for confirmation

Sinema worked directly with the White House to nominate Sharad Desai to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge in Arizona

WASHINGTON - Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced today that Sharad Desai, nominee to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona, was approved by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee by voice vote.

Sinema, who recommended Mr. Desai and worked directly with the White House on his nomination, introduced Mr. Desai to the Senate Judiciary Committee in September. Since then, Sinema worked diligently to secure robust, bipartisan approval of his nomination from the Judiciary Committee. With the Judiciary Committee's strong approval, Mr. Desai's nomination now heads to the Senate floor for confirmation.

"Sharad Desai possesses the experience, integrity, and intellect to serve honorably as a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. I look forward to securing his strong, bipartisan confirmation by the U.S. Senate," said Sinema.

Mr. Desai is a native Arizonan and, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he would be Arizona's first South Asian federal district judge.

Mr. Desai currently serves as Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell's Integrated Supply Chain and Information Technology groups, where he manages legal risk, ensures compliance with laws and regulations across the globe, resolves disputes prior to litigation, and more.

At Honeywell, Mr. Desai has served in numerous roles, including as Litigation Counsel for Honeywell's Aerospace division and Chief Litigation Counsel for the Safety and Productivity Solutions division. In these roles, Mr. Desai managed a docket of federal and state court matters and arbitrations - including commercial, qui tam, product liability, and toxic tort matters. Mr. Desai also selected outside counsel, developed the litigation strategy, and coordinated discovery efforts. He was also responsible for handling government subpoenas and civil investigatory demands, as well as subpoenas received in connection with civil and criminal matters.

Mr. Desai also worked for almost a decade at the Arizona law firm Osborn Maledon, becoming a partner in the litigation group where he represented clients - including individuals, small business, and Fortune 100 companies - in commercial litigation and appellate matters. In this role, Mr. Desai regularly appeared in both federal and state courts, mental health court proceedings, and lawyer ethics matters.

After graduating from New York University Law School in 2006, Mr. Desai clerked for Arizona Supreme Court then-Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch. Mr. Desai earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology, magna cum laude, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona in 2003, where he was a Flinn Scholar.

Sinema has a track record of earning broad bipartisan support for judicial nominees. Earlier this year, Sinema celebrated the Senate confirmation of Arizona's Angela Martinez and Krissa Lanham as federal judges for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona - Sinema personally ensured both nominees earned a broad bipartisan vote.