The U.S. Senate confirmed the first Native American woman to a federal judgeship Wednesday to the Arizona district. Diane Humetewa, a member of the Hopi tribe is only the third Native American to serve as a federal judge.
She is one of three nominees by President Obama to be confirmed Wednesday.
Humetewa, a former federal prosecutor, was approved by a 96-0 vote as only the third Native American to be named a federal judge. She currently serves as a special advisor on tribal relations to the president of ArizonaStateUniversity. She fills the seat of Judge Mary Murguia, who was elevated to he 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2011.
Along with Humetewa, the Senate confirmed John J. Tuchi, chief assistant U.S. Attorney in Arizona.
Tuchi will fill the seat of Judge Roslyn Silver who assumed senior status.
The third confirmation was Steven P. Logan, 48, who currently serves as a magistrate judge on the Arizona district court. Logan was an immigration judge for the Board of Immigration Appeals prior to serving as a federal prosecutor in Arizona and Minnesota.
All three were confirmed on 96-0 votes in the Senate.
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