The National Native American Bar Association and the Native American Rights Fund are pushing President Barack Obama to nominate an American Indian or an Alaska Native to the federal bench.

There has never been an Indian nominee to an appellate court or the U.S. Supreme Court. According to the Federal Judicial Center, there have only been two Indian judges in history.

"There's just a lack of representation and that lack of representation leads to no voice, no voice whatsoever in the decisions that are being made about Natives," Richard Guest of NARF told the Associated Press.

Obama has reportedly considering Keith Harper, a member of the Cherokee Nation, for a spot on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Get the Story:
American Indians ask for voice on federal court (AP 7/2)

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