U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Diane J. Humetewa to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona.

Humetewa is the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge, and the third Native American ever to do so.

“The confirmation of Ms. Humetewa to serve on the federal bench is historic,” said Heitkamp. “As the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge, I have no doubt that she will hold the court to the highest standards, as she has done throughout her career. Her vast and diverse experience shows that she is more than qualified for this position – from her work as a prosecutor and appellate court judge to her tribe, the Hopi Nation in Arizona, to her advocacy for victims’ rights to her work in academia. She’s an inspiration to Native American families across North Dakota and the country, and I hope that other young Native Americans strive to give back to their communities and stand up for others in the way that Ms. Humetewa has. It’s long overdue that Native Americans are better represented on the federal bench, and today’s vote is an important step forward.”

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) congratulates Diane J. Humetewa of the Hopi Indian Tribe on her confirmation as federal judge in the U.S. District Court of Arizona. As the newest member of the federal bench, she is the first Native American woman ever appointed to serve in that position.

The Honorable Humetewa is impeccably qualified for her new role. She has practiced law in federal courts for over a decade – as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, as Assistant U.S. Attorney, and as the U.S. Attorney for Arizona – and is experienced in a wide array of complex proceedings, hearings, and cases.

Further, Judge Humetewa has dedicated time to serving the interests of Native peoples. She has been the Appellate Court judge for the Hopi Tribe, counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and special advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs at Arizona State University.

NCAI greatly appreciates the efforts of the President and Senate in achieving this historic confirmation. There are many qualified, talented people like Diane Humetewa in Indian Country who are able and willing to serve. We eagerly anticipate many more nominations of Native people to the federal bench and other offices.

The National Native American Bar Association applauds the historic confirmation of Diane Humetewa to be a district court judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Ms. Humetewa, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, is the first Native American woman in the history of our nation to serve on the federal judiciary, and will be the only American Indian serving as an Article III judge in the federal judiciary. Ms. Humetewa was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

Ms. Humetewa has had a distinguished career in public service. She previously served as the Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. Earlier in her career, she worked as an attorney on the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee under then Chairman John McCain. Ms. Humetewa also worked in the U.S. Department of Justice and served as an Appellate Judge on the Hopi Appellate Court.

NNNABA applauds President Obama and Senator McCain for their support for Ms. Humetewa’s ascension to the federal bench in Arizona. “Ms. Humetewa’s exceptional career, including her former role as U.S. Attorney, will serve her well as the first female Native American ever appointed to the federal judiciary and the only American Indian in the federal judiciary,” said Mary Smith, NNABA President.

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