President Obama Nominates First Native American Woman to Federal Bench

[Tx4obama]

President Obama Nominates First Native American Woman to Federal Bench

It’s no secret that, since his first term in the oval office, President Barack Obama has pushed to diversify the federal judiciary—from the highest court down to the Court of International Trade. It’s a priority that’s come with a list of judicial firsts since he assumed office in 2009—most notably the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is both the first Hispanic woman and first person with a disability to serve on SCOTUS.

With last month’s eight nominations for judgeships on United State district courts, President Obama seems poised to continue this trend with the selection of Diane Humetewa for the U.S. District Court for Arizona. Humetewa’s nomination is one of substantial significance: as noted first by Indian Country Today, Humetewa is the first Native American woman nominated to the federal bench. She would also become the first Native American woman and only active tribal member to serve on the federal bench if appointed and confirmed. Yet, despite being historic, Humetewa’s selection was (unsurprisingly) covered by few news outlets and blogs.

Humetewa, a citizen of the Hopi Nation in northeastern Arizona, is no stranger to firsts, though. In 2006, the distinguished legal expert and former Hopi Tribe Appellate Court judge was confirmed as the first Native American woman in the country to serve as a U.S. Attorney. Previously having worked as Arizona’s assistant U.S. attorney, Humetewa was appointed for this state post by former President George W. Bush on the recommendation of Senator John McCain (R-Az.). It’s a role she would serve in for three years—Humetewa resigned in 2009 in part because, it would seem, of the political process involved in the changing of presidencies. Humetewa now works at Arizona State University as Special Advisor to Office of the President on American Indian Affairs and as Special Counsel to Office of General Counsel.

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More here: http://annamaryas.com/2013/10/10/icymi-president-obama-nominates-first-native-american-woman-to-federal-bench/

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. DU Rec -- this needs to make the Greatest Page, people.