Diane Humetewa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Diane Humetewa
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona | |
| Assumed office May 16, 2014 |
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| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Mary H. Murguia |
| United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | |
| In office December 17, 2007 – August 2, 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Paul K. Charlton |
| Succeeded by | Dennis K. Burke |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Diane Joyce Humetewa
December 5, 1964 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Hopi Nation |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Miguel Juarez |
| Education | Phoenix College (AA) Arizona State University (BS, JD) |
Diane Joyce Humetewa (born December 5, 1964) is a United States federal judge in Arizona. She is the first Native American woman to become a U.S. federal judge. She is also the first person who is an enrolled member of a Native American tribe to hold this position.
Before becoming a judge, Humetewa was the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona from 2007 to 2009. She also teaches law at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Humetewa has worked with the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and advised the United States Department of Justice. She has also served as a judge for the Hopi Tribe, which she is a member of.
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Diane Humetewa's Early Life and Education
Diane Humetewa was born in 1964 in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a Native American and belongs to the Hopi tribe. She earned an associate degree from Phoenix College in 1985. Then, she graduated from Arizona State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
From 1987 to 1990, Humetewa helped victims at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona. She then studied law at Arizona State's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. She earned her law degree (Juris Doctor) in 1993.
Her Career in Law
From 1993 to 1996, Humetewa worked for the U.S. Senate's United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She helped with issues related to Native American tribes. In 1996, she became the Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona. This role involved working closely with tribal governments.
From 2001 to 2007, she was a Senior Litigation Counsel there. This meant she handled important legal cases. In 2007, President George W. Bush chose her to be the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. The Senate approved her, and she started the job on December 17, 2007. She was the first Native American woman to be a United States Attorney.
Humetewa is known as an expert on Native American legal issues. She has taught law enforcement and prosecutors about these topics. From 2002 to 2007, she also served as a temporary judge for the Hopi Tribal Appellate Court. She left her role as United States Attorney on August 2, 2009. President Barack Obama then nominated Dennis K. Burke for the position. In 2011, she became a special advisor at Arizona State University for American Indian Affairs.
Becoming a Federal Judge
On September 19, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Diane Humetewa to become a United States district judge. This meant she would serve on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. She was chosen to fill a seat left by Judge Mary H. Murguia.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination in February 2014. On May 14, 2014, the United States Senate voted to confirm her. The vote was 96–0, showing strong support. She officially became a judge on May 16, 2014.
Possible Supreme Court Nomination
After Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in 2016, Diane Humetewa was mentioned as a possible choice for the United States Supreme Court. Some thought she could be a good candidate that both political parties might agree on.
Personal Life and Heritage
Diane Humetewa is an enrolled member of the Hopi Nation. As of October 2021, she was one of four Native American federal judges actively serving in the United States.
See also
- List of first women lawyers and judges in Arizona
- List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States
- List of Native American jurists
