Diane Humetewa

Judge Diane J. Humetewa serves as a U.S. federal judge and is recognized as the first Native American woman and the first enrolled tribal member to hold this position. An enrolled member of the Hopi Nation, Humetewa has developed a career focused on federal law and Native American rights, contributing significantly to American Indian jurisprudence.

Humetewa's career in public service began after earning her undergraduate degree, when she worked as a victim advocate for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Arizona federal judicial district. She later attended Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor. Humetewa also served as deputy counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Beginning in 1996, she worked as the Tribal Liaison in the office of the United States Attorney for Arizona and later as Senior Litigation Counsel. A graduate of the Indian Legal Program at Arizona State, Humetewa is regarded as a national expert on Native American legal issues and has provided instruction to law enforcement and prosecutors on these topics.

Appointed by President George W. Bush, Humetewa became the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, making her the first Native American woman to serve in this role. In this capacity, she led one of the largest U.S. Attorney Offices in the country and managed a high caseload. Humetewa oversaw the prosecution of U.S. Representative Rick Renzi, who was convicted on multiple counts and sentenced to federal prison. She has also served as a judge pro tem on the Hopi Tribal Appellate Court and as an ad hoc member of the Native American Subcommittee of the United States Sentencing Commission.

Nominated by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the Senate, Humetewa was appointed as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, marking another milestone as the first Native American woman confirmed to the federal bench. She has been mentioned as a potential nominee for the United States Supreme Court. Humetewa serves on the Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction and chairs the 9th Circuit Court Committee on Tribal-Native Relations.

In addition to her judicial responsibilities, Humetewa has contributed to Native American advocacy and legal education. She has served as a keynote speaker at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute's Native Peoples, Native Politics symposium and delivered the Justice Jackson Lecture at The National Judicial College. Humetewa is a presidentially appointed member of the Board of Directors for the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation and serves on the boards of The Nature Conservancy in Arizona and The National Indian Justice Center. She has expressed that her achievements demonstrate the potential for individuals from diverse backgrounds to succeed in the legal profession.