Diane Humetewa

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

If confirmed by the Senate, Humetewa would be the first Native American woman in the federal judiciary She was the first Native woman to serve as U.S. Attorney.

Humetewa 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.

"These men and women have had distinguished legal careers and I am honored to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench,” Obama said in a press release that announced eight nominees, including Humetewa. “They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice.”

The following biographical information was released by the White House:

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.