Cherokee Nation Chief Bill John Baker on Diane Humetewa's confirmation

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.