Diane Humetewa

President Barack Obama has resubmitted the nomination of Diane Humetewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe, to serve as a federal judge in Arizona.

Obama originally nominated Humetewa in September 2013. Even though she has widespread support in Indian Country and has earned praise from members of Congress from both parties, the Senate Judiciary Committee never scheduled a confirmation hearing for her [Committee Questionnaire].

"Diane Humetewa is highly qualified and has been recognized and nominated for important federal positions by both Present Obama and President Bush," the National Congress of American Indians said last year.

Humetewa was the first Native woman to serve as U.S. Attorney. She served in the post from December 2007 through August 2009.

She currently serves as a special advisor for American Indian Affairs at Arizona State University. She also worked for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the Department of Justice.

The following biographical information was released by the White House last year:

Diane J. Humetewa currently serves as Special Advisor to the President and Special Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at Arizona State University. She is also a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. From 2009 to 2011, Humetewa was Of Counsel with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. She worked in the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona from 1996 to 2009, serving as Senior Litigation Counsel from 2001 to 2007 and as the United States Attorney from 2007 to 2009. During her tenure in the United States Attorney’s Office, Humetewa also served as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General from 1996 to 1998. From 1993 to 1996, she was Deputy Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Humetewa received her J.D. in 1993 from Arizona State University College of Law and her B.S. in 1987 from Arizona State University. She is a member of the Hopi Indian Tribe and, from 2002 to 2007, was an Appellate Court Judge for the Hopi Tribe Appellate Court.

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Opinion: Big deal in nomination of Diane Humetewa as judge (10/02)
Opinion: Long overdue pick of Native woman as federal judge (09/24)
Diane Humetewa earns praise as choice for federal judgeship (9/20)
Obama nominates Diane Humetewa, Hopi, as a federal judge (9/19)