On Sept. 5, Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, Honore Callingham (’18), Maya Araujo, Danielle Williams and the Indian Legal Clinic students Mikaela Bledsoe Downes (3L), Colten Fredericks (3L), Hunter Mallinger (3L), Cillian McDonagh (3L), Sam Phillips (3L) and Ronnie Strode III (3L) traveled to the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona.
At the Ak-Chin courthouse, the Indian Legal Clinic (ILC) met Associate Judge Adithya Bala, new Prosecutor Raymond Vaca and Pre-Trial Case Coordinate Xavier Rojas. After a lively discussion with the court personnel on careers in criminal law, students observed the initial appearances of two clients who would subsequently be represented by the ILC. After witnessing real hearings, several students simulated an arraignment hearing under the guidance of Judge Bala. Phillips presided over the mock hearing as the judge, Strode played the defendant represented by his mock attorney, Fredericks and Mallinger represented the Community as the mock prosecutor. ILC student attorneys will return to the Ak-Chin Community Court throughout the semester to represent defendants in criminal matters.
After the events at the courthouse, the student attorneys had lunch with Ak-Chin Indian Community Chairman Gabriel Lopez. Chairman Lopez discussed the history of his Tribe, how leadership promotes community interests, the Tribe’s legal successes and the challenges they are facing today.