U.S. Federal Judge Jesse Furman’s brother-in-law, Josh Dubler, is an associate professor of religion at the University of Rochester in New York and a member of the university’s chapter of Faculty for Justice in Palestine. Recently, Judge Furman expanded a ban that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from deporting Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and former Columbia University student who organized pro-Hamas Palestinian riots on the university’s campus in New York.
Scrutiny has intensified not only on Judge Furman’s wife but also on his brother-in-law, Josh Dubler. The Faculty for Justice in Palestine has drawn attention for its activism on college campuses. In November 2024, Dubler attended the arraignments of four University of Rochester students facing suspension for their alleged involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. These demonstrations reportedly included actions that some Jewish students and faculty found threatening and intimidating. During the protests, hundreds of “wanted” posters featuring photographs of Jewish faculty members were distributed across the university, sparking outrage within the campus community. Dubler publicly called on the University of Rochester to drop the criminal charges against the students involved.
According to its website, Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine aims to “amplify the work of Students for Justice in Palestine along with other pro-Palestinian student groups and campus unions.” The organization has been linked to similar activism at universities nationwide.
Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University student at the center of Judge Furman’s ruling, was reportedly affiliated with Students for Justice in Palestine during his time at the university. Sources claim Khalil collaborated with the group to organize pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Columbia’s campus.
Adding to the controversy, Loomer Unleashed previously reported that then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appointed Ariela Dubler, Judge Furman’s wife, to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on December 23, 2024—just weeks before President Joe Biden’s term ended. Senate Democrats, including members of the powerful Judiciary Committee, have publicly supported Khalil, a recent graduate student detained by ICE. In a statement posted to the committee’s official social media account, Senate Judiciary Democrats condemned the detention as “straight-up authoritarianism,” alleging it was retaliation for Khalil exercising his First Amendment rights in a way that displeased President Donald Trump.
Judge Furman’s familial relationships—specifically with his wife and brother-in-law—have sparked discussions about judicial impartiality. Critics wonder if these ties might affect Furman’s capacity to deliver unbiased rulings in immigration cases, especially those concerning national security and First Amendment matters.
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