CORRECTION: Using a February 16, 2016 United Press International article as the main source, we incorrectly dated this story. The Senate confirmation actually took place in May, 2014. Good News Network apologizes for the misinformation but will leave this article posted as background for an “On This Day in History” mention, that we previously published here.
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A former prosecutor and judge for her Hopi tribe has become the first Native American woman to become a federal judge.
The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Diane Humetewa to a District Court bench in Arizona on Monday (see correction above). She’s only the third Native American to serve as a federal judge, and the only one currently to be serving.
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The National Congress of American Indians issued a statement saying it hoped her appointment would lead to more highly qualified Native Americans being appointed to judgeships.
There are 21 Native American reservations in Arizona and all felonies on those lands are tried in federal court.
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“We do not have a bench that reflects the community it serves,” Former U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton told the Arizona Republic. “And now, for the first time in our nation’s history, we’ll have a representative.”
Photo: Activedia, CC; U.S. Govt