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In a landmark move, Judge Soma Syed has been officially nominated by the Queens County Democratic Party to run for a position on the New York State Supreme Court. The nomination, announced on August 11, 2025, positions her as a frontrunner in the general election this November. A victory would be a monumental achievement, as she would become the first Muslim and the first Bangladeshi-American to serve on the bench in Queens.
This historic nomination is a powerful testament to the growing influence of the Bangladeshi-American community in New York City and a celebration of Judge Syed's distinguished legal career. Her campaign for the state’s highest trial court focuses on her extensive experience, her commitment to justice, and a dedication to serving the diverse population of Queens.
Judge Syed is no stranger to making history. She was previously elected as a New York City Civil Court Judge on November 2, 2021, a landmark victory that made her the first Bangladeshi-American elected judge in the United States. She assumed office on January 1, 2022, and her current term is set to end in 2032. Before her time on the bench, she was the principal of her own law firm, Soma Syed & Associates, and represented clients in a wide array of cases, including real estate, immigration, and family law. She has also served as President of the Queens County Women's Bar Association.
The celebration of her achievement extends to her family's ancestral home in Bangladesh. Judge Syed's husband is Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, whose family is originally from Akhaikura Union in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh. Speaking to the Daily Dazzling Dawn, Mizan's younger brother, Burhan Chowdhury—a former acting general secretary of the Moulvibazar District Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal—expressed the community's pride, highlighting the deep connection between the Bangladeshi-American community and their heritage.
The New York State Supreme Court is the state's highest trial court of general jurisdiction, handling a wide range of civil and criminal cases. While its name can be a source of confusion, it is distinct from the United States Supreme Court, which is the nation’s highest federal court. Judge Syed's new role, if elected, would be a critical position within the state's judicial system, where she would play a vital role in upholding justice for the millions of people in her jurisdiction. Her potential historic win is expected to inspire a new generation of lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in public service and the judiciary.
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