A former Arizona U.S. Attorney joined the Native American law practice of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, the Cleveland-based firm announced today.
Diane Humetewa
Diane Humetewa, the first American Indian woman to be a U.S. Attorney, will work on natural resources, energy, water and real estate issues out of the firm’s Washington and Phoenix offices. She resigned as U.S. Attorney last month after serving almost two years as the top federal prosecutor in Arizona. Humetewa was nominated in 2007 to replace Paul Charlton, who was forced out during the 2006 U.S. Attorney purge.
Click here for our previous report about attempts by Bush White House officials to sink her nomination in 2007. But Humetewa’s sponsor and former boss, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), refused to budge, and she was appointed to the U.S. Attorney post.
“Diane is joining us at an opportune time, given the increasing Native American demand for legal and legislative services in the Southwest and in Washington, D.C.,” Phoenix office managing partner Robert L. Matia said in a statement. “Her extensive background in these areas complements our existing practices. We are very excited to welcome her to Squire Sanders.”
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Dennis Burke, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s senior adviser on border security and law enforcement, to be the next Arizona U.S. Attorney. The Senate has yet to schedule a floor vote on the Burke nomination.
