Judge Abdus-Salaam
The April death of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first African-American woman, and the first Muslim, appointed to the New York State Court of Appeals, has been officially ruled a suicide by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner. Judge Abdus-Salaam’s body was found in the Hudson River without obvious signs of trauma, after video surveillance showed her walking alone towards the river over the course of several hours.
Despite leaks that the NYPD suspected it was a suicide, they treated the judge’s death as suspicious, and turned the results of their investigation to the Medical Examiner’s Office in May. Abdus-Salaam’s husband resisted early assessments that his wife’s death was a suicide.
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Abdus-Salaam’s death has drawn further attention to mental health issues in the legal profession. The industry is noted for having high rates of addiction issues and a number of high-profile suicides.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please, reach out for help.
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).