WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Barack Obama has described Indian-origin Srikanth Srinivasan, who created history by becoming a top federal judge, as one of his “favourite” persons. “One of my favourite people right now [is], Sri Srinivasan, who has just been confirmed,” Obama said at a White House reception held to celebrate the month of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

“I was proud to nominate Sri, and he was just confirmed unanimously to become the first South Asian American federal appeals court judge,” Obama said addressing the gathering at the White House last evening. “I was telling his kids, who are here today, if he starts getting a big head, walking around the house with a robe asking them to call him ‘Your Honor’ then they should talk to me,” Obama said amidst laughter.

Media reports suggest Obama might consider nominating Srinivasan, one of his favourite legal luminaries, for the Supreme Court judge in case of the next vacancy on the bench. Last week, Srinivasan was confirmed by the US Senate (97-0) votes as a judge on the DC circuit court of appeals, which is considered as the top court of the country after the Supreme Court. He is the first Indian-American to achieve the fete. Addressing the gathering, Obama fondly remembered delicacies like ‘keema’ and ‘daal’ cooked by his Indian and Pakistani classmates during college days.