Obama nominates Arvo Mikkanen, Kiowa, to serve as federal judge

Thursday, February 3, 2011  

President Barack Obama nominated Arvo Mikkanen, a member of the Kiowa Tribe, to serve as a federal judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Mikkanen currently works as an assistant federal prosecutor the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Oklahoma. He has also worked in private practice and as a judge for several Oklahoma tribes.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mikkanen would be the second Native American in the federal judiciary. The other is Leo Brisbois, White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indians, who has been serving as a federal magistrate in Minnesota.

However, members of Oklahoma's Congressional delegation weren't pleased with the nomination. They said Obama failed to consult them before choosing Mikkanen and their opposition could derail his chances.

Get the Story:
President nominates federal prosecutor to be U.S. judge in Tulsa (The Oklahoman 2/3)
Obama names nominee for Tulsa federal court post (The Tulsa World 2/3)
Press Release: President Obama Names Two to the United States District Court (White House 2/2)