On June 17, the Indian Legal Clinic filed an amicus curiae brief with the Arizona Court of Appeals in a case regarding guardianship and ICWA. Written by Director Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Jordan Garcia (’23) and Honore Callingham (’18), on behalf of the Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ), the amicus brief supported the appellees, including the Gila River Indian Community. The Arizona Court of Appeals – Division One directly invited interested parties or organizations, including the Indian Legal Clinic, to file an amicus brief setting forth their respective positions on any issue presented in the case. NABA-AZ includes members who teach, publish scholarship, and practice in the areas of Indian law and Tribal law, including members of the Arizona Bar who represent Tribes in ICWA proceedings. In addition, NABA-AZ has provided educational programs on ICWA and has commented on the rules surrounding it.

April Olson (’06), attorney at Rothstein Donatelli LLP, argued on behalf of the Gila River Indian Community during the July 18 Oral Arguments at the Arizona Court of Appeals. Gila River Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, Councilmember Jennifer Allison, Attorney Sunshine Manuel and others from Gila River attended the arguments