Sharad Desai, an Indian American attorney based in Phoenix, has been confirmed as a U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona. His confirmation received strong bipartisan support, with Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema praising his appointment. Desai, a native Arizonan, is notably the first South Asian to hold this position in Arizona.
Currently, Desai holds the position of Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell’s Integrated Supply Chain and Information Technology groups. In this capacity, he oversees global legal risks and ensures regulatory compliance. His legal career also includes significant experience as Litigation Counsel for Honeywell’s Aerospace division and Chief Litigation Counsel for Safety and Productivity Solutions.
Before his tenure at Honeywell, Desai spent nearly a decade at Osborn Maledon, where he became a partner in the litigation group. Desai holds a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona, as well as a law degree from New York University. During his time at NYU, he also clerked for Arizona Supreme Court then-Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch. His confirmation to the federal bench was celebrated as a major milestone in Arizona’s legal history.
