{"id":33087,"date":"2023-10-18T11:38:31","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T15:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=33087"},"modified":"2023-10-18T11:45:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T15:45:48","slug":"cherokee-nation-attorney-makes-history-as-first-native-judicial-nominee-in-oklahoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/10\/18\/cherokee-nation-attorney-makes-history-as-first-native-judicial-nominee-in-oklahoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Cherokee Nation attorney makes history as first Native judicial nominee in Oklahoma"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n
\"Sara<\/a><\/div>\r\n
Sara E. Hill. Photo courtesy Cherokee Nation<\/figcaption><\/div><\/div>\r\n
Cherokee Nation attorney makes history as first Native judicial nominee in Oklahoma<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, October 18, 2023<\/div>\r\n
By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nSara E. Hill, the former attorney general of the Cherokee Nation<\/a>, is making history as a nominee to the federal bench.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nHill’s nomination to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma was announced by President Joe Biden<\/a> on Wednesday morning. If confirmed, the Cherokee citizen would be the first Native woman to serve as a federal judge in her home state, a move cheered by the National Congress of American Indians<\/a> (NCAI).\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cNCAI strongly supports President Biden\u2019s nomination of Sara Hill, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, to be the first-ever Native American woman to sit on the federal bench in the state of Oklahoma,\u201d said Larry Wright, Jr., who serves as executive director of the nation’s largest inter-tribal advocacy organization.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n \u201cSara Hill will bring unparalleled experience in law and policy to our justice system,” Wright, a former chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, continued. “NCAI urges the swift confirmation of Ms. Hill as the nomination moves before the U.S. Senate.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Native\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tNative American Rights Fund (@NDNrights) on X\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

BREAKING: @ncai1944 and NARF applaud President Biden\u2019s historic nomination of the first Native American woman to the federal bench in Oklahoma. #RepresentationMatters https:\/\/t.co\/S0TzKS1Hmv<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"X\t\tX (formerly Twitter)\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe Native American Rights Fund<\/a> (NARF), the largest Native legal non-profit, also welcomed the nomination<\/a>. Together, NCAI and NARF have been working to increase the number of Native federal judges<\/a>.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cSara Hill has a strong history of public service and possesses excellent qualifications to be a federal judge,” said NARF executive director John Echohawk, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation. “We applaud the Biden Administration\u2019s selection of this historic nominee and urge her confirmation. She will be a strong addition to the federal judiciary in Oklahoma.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\nHill’s selection continues a history-making streak by Biden, a Democrat. Since taking office in January 2021, he has nominated a record four Native people to the federal bench — the prior three have already been confirmed by the U.S. Senate<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n Biden’s actions have led to a small yet significant increase in the number of Native federal jurists. According to NCAI and NARF, Hill would be just the seventh active American Indian or Alaska Native person serving as a U.S. district court judge.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nBut it’s not just Indian Country hailing the the Democratic president’s achievements. The two U.S. Senators from Oklahoma — both Republicans — are supporting Hill and they expect her to be confirmed as soon as possible.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cAs a fellow member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, I am grateful for Sara Hill\u2019s service to the Tribe, which totals approximately 19 years in the aggregate,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin<\/a> (R-Oklahoma), a new member of the Senate.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n“Ms. Hill is very familiar with the Northern District of Oklahoma, having previously served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney,” Mullin added, referring to Hill’s service as a federal prosecutor who was able to pursue criminal cases<\/a> in Indian Country.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Senator\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSenator James Lankford\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

I\u2019m pleased that the White House has nominated Oklahomans Sara Hill and John D. Russell to the US District Court for the Northern District, and I congratulate both nominees. Oklahoma is blessed to…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"www.facebook.com\"\t\twww.facebook.com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSen. James Lankford<\/a> (R-Oklahoma) praised Hill’s nomination, as well as that of John D. Russell, whom Biden has selected for a seat on the same federal court in Oklahoma. \r\nIn a press release on Wednesday<\/a>, the Republican lawmaker said the Northern District has become “overburdened” with activity.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cOklahoma is blessed to have many qualified individuals to serve in our courts, but both of these candidates rose to the top after extensive interviews,” Lankford said. “I have personally met with both of them and heard their commitment to the Constitution and strict rule of law.” \r\n

<\/p>\r\n“I look forward to the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing the nominations and the full Senate confirming them soon so they are able to fill two vacancies in the very overburdened Northern District Court,\u201d said Lankford.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe Northern District of Oklahoma covers an area<\/a> in the northeastern part of the state that has seen significant change, especially in the legal landscape. Much of the area, particularly the 14 counties served by the Cherokee Nation<\/a>, has finally been recognized as Indian Country following a historic decision from the U.S. Supreme Court<\/a> in 2020.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nAs the Cherokee Nation’s highest ranking legal official from August 2019 through August 2023<\/a>, Hill helped her tribe secure recognition of its reservation under the landmark precedent in the McGirt<\/em> case<\/a>. In yet another Supreme Court case, she successfully defended the Indian Child Welfare Act<\/a> from an unprecedented attack that was aimed at eroding the U.S. government’s trust and treaty responsibilities<\/a>. \r\n

<\/p>\r\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Cherokee\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\tCherokee Nation\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. issues statement on President Joe Biden’s nomination of former Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill as a federal judge \u27a1\ufe0f Learn more about…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t\"www.facebook.com\"\t\twww.facebook.com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nAnd Hill represented the tribe in a lawsuit against some of the largest pharmaceutical companies and distributors<\/a> in the U.S. Her work led to an opioid settlement that is benefiting all of Indian Country<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n“The Cherokee Nation could not be more proud of former Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill, who will make an excellent federal judge,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.<\/a> said in a statement on Wednesday<\/a>. “Deputy Chief and I are so pleased that President Biden announced today that she is among his nominees and call for her prompt confirmation by the U.S. Senate.”\r\n

<\/p>\r\n“She is a brilliant attorney and dedicated public servant who possesses the knowledge, demeanor and compassion to serve the country well on the bench,” added Hoskin.\r\n“As a female and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, she not only adds diversity to the ranks of federal judges, she also brings knowledge of Indian Country issues that we need more of among federal judges.”\r\n

<\/p>\r\n“Sara Hill will bring to the Northern District the same high level of legal expertise, work ethic and sense of fairness that she brought to her job as Cherokee Nation’s Attorney General during four of the most challenging years in our tribal history,” the chief said.\r\n

<\/p>

<\/ins>