On May 18, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Sunshine Skyes to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Justice Sykes is the first Native federal judge in California, the fourth active Native American Article III federal judge in the nation, and just the seventh Native federal judge ever appointed.
When sworn-in, she will become the first Native American Article III federal judge in California, the fourth active Native American federal judge in the nation, and just the seventh Native federal judge ever appointed.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez praised Judge Sykes' confirmation.
“On behalf of the Navajo Nation, we congratulate Judge Sykes on her historic nomination and becoming the first Diné person to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge. Her upbringing, exceptional experience, and commitment to serving the public and the justice system will bring new and unique perspectives to the justice system. We will continue to pray for her continued success as she serves in the U.S. District Court and we thank her for being an inspiration to our young Navajo people. We also thank the Biden-Harris Administration and the Senate. We look forward to having more appointments that reflect the diversity of this country,” President Nez said.
Sources: Native News Online, NCAI
