Here is “Tribal judge is named MiLW’s ‘Woman of the Year.’
This is outstanding news! Izhaadaa giizhigowaande!
judges
Mille Lacs Ojibwe Seeks Judge
Here (District Court Judge).
The District Court Judge presides over the District Court of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians and exercises judicial authority over cases in law and equity for the specific purposes of promoting the general welfare, preserving and maintaining justice, and protecting the rights of all persons under the jurisdiction of the Non-removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. This is a six-year term.
News Update in KBIC Judicial Crisis — Utilities Shut Off
Here is the news article, “KBIC moves tribal court.”
Keweenaw Bay Judicial Crisis
Here is the new report, “Judges suspended by Tribal Council following KBIC civil lawsuit hearing.”
Note that the tribal judicial code treats the judiciary as a branch of government on par with the legislative and executive branches.
Native American Rights Fund on Humetewa Confirmation
Today the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Diane Humetewa as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Arizona. Humetewa is a member of the Hopi Tribe and is now the first American Indian woman federal judge. She was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona from 2006 to 2009.
NARF Executive Director John E. Echohawk congratulated Judge Humetewa on her confirmation: “She is well-qualified for this position and the Federal Judicial Selection Project, staffed by NARF and NCAI attorneys, has long-supported her nomination and confirmation. With today’s historic vote, she will be the only Native American federal judge currently sitting and the first Native American woman in the federal judiciary. With this important milestone, we acknowledge that there are still a lot of judicial vacancies and accomplished, well-qualified Native American attorneys who are ready to serve. We look forward to supporting more nominees like Judge Humetewa in the future.”
Sen. Heitkamp Statement on Humetewa Confirmation
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.”
NCAI Statement in Humetewa Confirmation
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.
National Native American Bar Association Statement on Humetewa Confirmation
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.
Diane Humetewa Confirmed 96-0
Amazing news!
ABA’s Ranking of Judicial Candidates More Likely to Disadvantage Women and Minorities
NY Times article here.
Original study here.
Article abstract:
This article uses two newly collected data sets to investigate the reliance by political actors on the external vetting of judicial candidates, in particular vetting conducted by the nation’s largest legal organization, the American Bar Association (ABA). Using these data, I show that minority and female nominees are more likely than whites and males to receive lower ratings, even after controlling for education, experience, and partisanship via matching. These discrepancies are important for two reasons. First, as I show, receiving poor ABA ratings is correlated with confirmation failure. Second, I demonstrate that ABA ratings do not actually predict whether judges will be “better” in terms of reversal rates. Taken together, these findings complicate the ABA’s influential role in judicial nominations, both in terms of setting up possible barriers against minority and female candidates and also in terms of its actual utility in predicting judicial performance.
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