I applaud the appointment and confirmation of Hopi citizen
Diane Humetewa as federal judge in the U.S. District Court of Arizona. Our
federal judicial system should have a fair representation of American Indian
citizens serving as judges. This is something we must keep pushing for as
tribal governments, as so many of the cases that affect our tribal sovereignty
and self-determination are heard in federal courts. I respect and admire
President Obama for fulfilling a commitment to increase the visibility of
Indian people across his administration and the federal judicial system.