Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson, a judge in Rhode Island who used to serve as legal counsel for the Narragansett Tribe, went before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Thompson was nominated by President Barack Obama to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. If confirmed, she will be the first African-American on the court, which has ruled against tribes on sovereignty, land-into-trust and other issues.

In documents to the committee, Thompson described her work for the Narragansett Tribe as one of the most "challenging and stimulating" parts of her career. She said she came into the job with little experience in Indian law but learned more through representing the tribe in its dealings with the state and the federal government on land, environment and Indian Child Welfare Act issues.

"My experience with the tribe gave me a rich appreciation of the history of the Native people of this country," Thompson testified.

Thompson was asked about her tribal work by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The exchange starts at about 34 minutes into the webcast.

No Republican members of the committee showed up to the hearing.

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R.I. judge’s nomination rolls smoothly through Senate hearing (The Providence Journal 12/3)