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 |
| Education | Phoenix College (AA) Arizona State University (BS, JD) |
Diane Joyce Humetewa (born December 5, 1964) is a very important judge in the United States. She serves as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
Judge Humetewa made history. She is the first Native American woman to become a U.S. federal judge. She is also the first person who is a member of a Native American tribe to hold this position. Before becoming a judge, she was the United States Attorney for Arizona from 2007 to 2009. She also teaches law at Arizona State University.
Diane Humetewa has worked in many important roles. She helped the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She also advised the Deputy Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice. She was a judge for the Hopi Tribe, which she is a member of.
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Early Life and Education
Diane Humetewa was born in 1964 in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a proud member of the Hopi tribe. She started her college education at Phoenix College, earning a degree in 1985.
She then went to Arizona State University. She earned her first degree there in 1987. From 1987 to 1990, she helped victims at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona. After that, she studied law at Arizona State's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. She became a lawyer in 1993.
Legal Career Journey
From 1993 to 1996, Diane Humetewa worked for the U.S. Senate's Committee on Indian Affairs. This committee deals with issues important to Native American tribes.
In 1996, she started working at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona. She was a special helper for tribal matters. From 2001 to 2007, she was a Senior Litigation Counsel there. This means she was a lead lawyer on many important cases.
In 2007, Diane Humetewa became the United States Attorney for Arizona. She was chosen for this important role. She is known as an expert on legal issues for Native Americans. She has taught police and lawyers about these topics. She also served as a judge for the Hopi Tribal Appellate Court. She left her role as U.S. Attorney in 2009. Later, in 2011, she became a special advisor at Arizona State University.
Becoming a Federal Judge
On September 19, 2013, President Barack Obama chose Diane Humetewa to be a federal judge. She was nominated for a position on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. This court handles many important legal cases.
Her nomination was approved by the United States Senate on May 14, 2014. Almost all senators voted yes, showing strong support for her. She officially became a judge on May 16, 2014.
Possible Supreme Court Nomination
In 2016, after a Supreme Court Justice passed away, Diane Humetewa's name was mentioned. Some people thought she might be a good choice for the United States Supreme Court. This shows how respected and qualified she is in the legal world.
Personal Life and Heritage
Diane Humetewa is an enrolled member of the Hopi Nation. This means she is officially recognized as a member of the Hopi Tribe. As of July 2025, she is one of only a few Native American federal judges serving in the United States. Her work is very important for representing Native American communities in the legal system.
See also
