Where are they now? Feat. Shea Backus (’03)

Posted on January 18, 2023 by dwilliams

Shea Backus (’03) is a shareholder of Backus | Burden, a civil / commercial litigation firm in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shea has been elected to serve as an Assemblywoman in the Nevada State Legislature representing District 37. This is her second time to serve. She will have the honor to chair Revenue and serve as vice-chair of Ways & Means.

Q: What has your journey been like since you graduated?

A: It is almost 20 years since I graduated, and it does not feel that long. I have been in private practice since graduating. I started working for my dad’s small firm in Las Vegas right after law school, and am now a shareholder. I have had the privilege of being able to practice in the State of Nevada, as well as three tribal courts.

Four years ago, I decided to run for our state legislature. I won in 2018, lost in 2020 and won in 2022. I’m looking forward to serve my second regular session starting February 6, after serving in one regular session in 2019 and two special sessions in 2020. From my service in 2019, I was appointed to the Uniform Law Commission. Since then, I have been a Commissioner for Nevada. I am proudly on a study committee looking at a uniform or model code addressing issues related to the Indian Child Welfare Act. I am also exploring a bill to address any issues pertaining to ICWA in light of pending matters before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Q: What is the most valuable lesson you learned in the classroom that has helped you in your career?

A: Legal Writing! ASU’s legal writing program definitely prepared me for the practice of law.

Q: Is there anything you’ve learned after graduating that you wished you learned in class?

A: The difference between practicing law and studying in law school. This is more on me and less on the law school. At the time I was at ASU, I had no idea that I would be a litigator, so I never took any classes that would have prepared me for the litigation world.

Q: What originally made you choose ASU Law?

A: Reputation, ILP and closeness to home.

Q: Who was your favorite law professor, and why?

A: Professor Clinton. While I thought he was terrifying as my Indian Law professor, I came to appreciate him through his involvement with ILP and then as a professor of an Indian Gaming course that I took.

Q: What is your advice for current students?

A: Develop your legal writing and research skills while you are in law school as this will provide a great foundation to being a respected practitioner. Also, work harder than your opponent and you will succeed!

Q: What do you want people to know about you?

A: I am truly proud of setting history by serving in the first female majority state legislature in U.S. history. When I won a seat that a lot of people thought I could not win because of my political party, it created the pathway to that majority female legislature. I am also humbled and surprised to be the first female, enrolled in a tribe, to serve in the Nevada State Legislature. This has provided me with an understanding in addressing bills that can impact our tribal communities and urban Indians.

2023 ILP Alumni Awards: Call for Nominations

Posted on December 5, 2022 by dwilliams

The ILP alumni awards are now open. Nominate your classmates and friends! The ILP Awards include Professional Achievement, Alumni Service Award, and Emerging Leader Award. Nominations are due March 3, 2023! Nomination materials should be sent by email to: Kate.Rosier@asu.edu. Awards will be presented at the ILP Alumni & Friends Awards Ceremony at Fed Bar on Monday, April 17, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Nomination Guidelines

ILP Professional Achievement Award – This award recognizes outstanding achievement in Indian Law or Tribal Law throughout an individual’s career. The award honors ILP alumni whose achievements in the field of Indian Law or Tribal Law have brought distinction to themselves and real benefit to the Indian community. Nomination Package Requirements:

Describe the unique professional achievements in the field of Indian Law or Tribal Law that has brought distinction to the candidate. (maximum two pages)
Describe the recognized contributions made by this candidate that demonstrate a benefit to the larger community. (maximum one page)
Describe the ways in which the candidate’s achievements are truly extraordinary or exceptional. (maximum one page)
Provide at least two letters of support from individuals that can speak to the candidate’s impact on his or her profession.
Letters of support should speak to the magnitude of the individual’s impact in the practice of Indian or tribal law or in the Indian community.
Provide a 200 word bio of the nominee.
Past winners include: Claudeen Bates Arthur (’74) (Posthumous), Gloria Kindig (’89), Kathy Bowman (’86), Rob Rosette (’96), Diane Enos (’92), Ben Hanley (’71) and Herb Yazzie (’75).

ILP Alumni Service Award – This award is given for outstanding service to the Indian Legal Program, and is awarded for extended, extraordinary service to the Indian Legal Program. Nomination Package Requirements

Describe the ways in which the candidate has served or supported the ILP and the ILP alumni. Examples can include serving on committees, boards, CLEs, mentoring ILP students, or other volunteer or fundraising efforts or funding commitments. (maximum one page)
Describe the ways this service been truly extraordinary. (maximum one page)
Describe how the candidate’s service has benefited the ILP. (maximum one page)
Please provide at least two letters of support from ILP alumni as part of the nomination package.
Provide a 200 word bio of the nominee.
Past winners include: Rodina Cave Parnall (’01), Peter Larson (’02), Verrin Kewenvoyouma (’04), Ann Marie Downes (’94), Mary Shirley (’92) and Jeff Harmon (’05).

ILP Emerging Leader Award – This award acknowledges and encourages service to Indian Country and the ILP by alumni who are less than ten years out of law school. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in their professional career, volunteer work, and promotion or support of the ILP and/or ASU NALSA. Nomination Package Requirements.

Describe how the candidate has achieved professional success in their legal career.
Describe the candidate’s volunteer work.
Describe how the candidate achieved an exceptional level of service while balancing the demands of being a recent graduate. (maximum one page)
Describe how the candidate was proactive in efforts to become involved in ILP and/or ILP alumni activities. (maximum one page)
Describe how the candidate’s service has been sustained over a long period of time or how the service has been innovative or beneficial. (maximum one page)
Provide two letters of support from fellow ILP alumni.
Provide a 200 word bio of the nominee.
Past winners include: Jacob Schellinger (’12), Derrick Beetso (’10), Carolyn Angus-Hornbuckle (’09), Nikki Borchardt Campbell (’09), Steve Bodmer (’06), Elizabeth Medicine Crow (’05), Charles Galbraith (’07), Matthew Campbell (’08) and Michael Corey Hinton (’11).

ASU Indian Legal Clinic goes to Washington, D.C.

Posted on November 21, 2022 by dwilliams

Last month, the Indian Legal Clinic traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend a hearing that focused on the situation of Indigenous Peoples and forced displacement in the context of climate change in the United States before the Inter American Commission on Human Rights. The request for a hearing was made on behalf of four Louisiana Tribes and the Village of Kivalina.

Student attorneys Ruben Zendejas (3L) and Brittany Habbart (3L) were assigned the case with Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee. Working with Earth Rights, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and the Georgetown Environmental Law and Justice Clinic, the ILC assisted in preparing a written submission in support of the thematic hearing and preparing witnesses for the hearing. Blair Tarman-Toner (’20) also assisted with the written submission. Ferguson-Bohnee gave the rebuttal statement on behalf of the petitioning Tribes during the Thematic Hearing. While in Washington, ILC students attended a meeting at the White House.

“Ruben and I met different tribal leaders and advocates and learned about their experiences with climate displacement or dealing with the federal recognition process,” said Habbart. “Hearing about issues directly from people who live it or work with it is always invaluable.”

Your vote, your voice

Posted on November 16, 2022 by dwilliams

2022 is another year that has seen Arizona Native voters and their rights disproportionally challenged on the ballot. “Native advocates say voter ID rules in Proposition 309 could disenfranchise Arizona Indigenous voters,” said Native Vote fellow Torey Dolan (’19) in her interview with the AZ Central. The article discusses the impact that Proposition 309 will have on Tribal communities if passed. Proposition 309 would limit the forms of identification that are acceptable for in-person voting and would eliminate many forms of Tribal identification that voters currently rely on.

Despite this ballot measure and redistricting issues, the Indian Legal Clinic’s Native Vote Election Protection team organized and strategized with its partners to remain steadfast leading up to Election Day. Dolan presented at the Tribal leaders meeting hosted by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and discussed the propositions’ impacts on Tribal communities and Native voters.

Indian Legal Clinic student attorneys Mallory Moore (3L) and Autumn Shone (3L) led and conducted two trainings for volunteers.

This year, 66 volunteers served as Election Protectors stationed at multiple polling locations to assist voters at 9 Tribal communities: the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Navajo Nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Tohono O’odham Nation and the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

On Election Day, the Native Vote team worked with the Navajo Nation to assist in emergency litigation due to delays in the opening of a polling location in Many Farms, Arizona. Katherine Belzowski, an attorney with the Navajo Nation Department of Justice Economic and Community Development Unit, said “The Indian Legal Clinic was instrumental to the Navajo Nation’s success in the 2022 Election. ILC worked with the Navajo Department of Justice (NDOJ) to monitor state polling locations across the Nation. With ILC’s assistance NDOJ was able to timely investigate and respond every concern submitted to the ILC and NDOJ voting hotline.”

Thank you to all volunteers, advocates and allies for serving as Election Protectors and organizing the Native Vote power! With your help, we were able to assist voters through the hotline and in the field, ensuring that Native voters were able to cast ballots free from intimidation and without undue challenges. This year’s ILC Native Vote leadership team includes dedicated ILP Native Vote Fellows Torey Dolan (’19) and Blair Tarman-Toner (’20), student attorney leads Mallory Moore (3L) and Autumn Shone (3L), and student attorneys Chad Edwards (3L), Brittany Habbart (3L), Michael LaValley (3L), and Ruben Zendejas (3L), under the supervision of Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee.

Visiting Judge Humetewa’s courtroom

Posted on November 16, 2022 by dwilliams

On Nov. 11, ILP students met with Honorable Judge Diane Humetewa (’93), a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and her law clerks, including ILP alum Alexander Mallory (’19). Judge Humetewa is a member of the Hopi Tribe and became the first Native American woman to reach a federal bench in 2014. Students learned about her law school experiences, legal career and advocacy work in public service, and her commitment to building inclusion and diversity.

“She encouraged us to approach law school with a positive attitude, and to focus on the bigger picture when things get tough,” said Shandiin Hererra (1L). “This bigger picture focuses on how each of us can be impactful in Indian Country and/or be a strong advocate in spaces where Indigenous attorneys are seldom present.”

Visiting student Kelsey Haake (3L) enjoyed hearing about Judge Humetewa’s background. “While I find law school to be so exhausting and daunting at times, it was really nice to hear that even someone with so much success and an incredible career had moments in law school where they struggled,” said Haake.

During the visit, Judge Humetewa gave the students a tour of her courtroom and chambers.

Judge Humetewa welcomed open questions, genuinely listened and made their presence felt. We appreciate you, Judge Humetewa! Thank you for arranging this meeting and hosting our students.

While at the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse, we ran into ILP grad Zachary Cain (’00). Cain currently serves as a federal public defender.

Federal Advocacy Class in DC

Posted on October 20, 2022 by dwilliams

Last week, 17 students – 15 JD, 1 LLM and 1 MLS – in the Indian Legal Program (ILP) spent their fall break in Washington, D.C. for the “Federal Advocacy for the Tribal Client” traveling class. The students attended the week-long class taught by the ILP’s Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Director Derrick Beetso (’10) at the O’Connor Center. ILP hosted private practice attorneys: Brian Gunn of Powers Law, and Sam Hirsch, Leonard Powell, and Krystalyn Kinsel (’15) of Jenner & Block. Each attorney shared about their work on behalf of tribal clients and offered sage advice to the students. Thank you, Brian, Sam, Leonard, and Krystalyn! Thank you, D.C. ASU Law team – your hospitality and service is appreciated!

The week also included a visit to the Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, where students received encouragement and reaffirmance of their respective academic endeavors from Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Bryan Newland. They also exchanged questions and comments with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Energy and Economic Development, Kathryn Isom-Clause; Senior Counselor Stephanie Sfiridis (’16), Senior Advisor Tracy Canard Goodluck and Deputy Solicitor Joel Williams; and Special Assistant Joaquin Gallegos and connected virtually with Rose Petoskey, Senior Counselor. Thank you, AS-IA leadership team!

ILP students then visited the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Committee staff were extremely gracious with their time and their space as a group of bipartisan staffers, including Senior Counsel Breann Nu’uhiwa (LLM ’09), Deputy Staff Director Amber Ebarb, Counsel Connie Tsosie de Haro, Policy Advisors John Simermeyer and Jacqueline Bisillie (MLS ’14), and Staff Assistant Denae Benson, met with students and explained the Committee’s history, the work they do, and their perspectives on what it means to draft and pass laws that further tribal self-governance. The students also learned a lot about the important education the Committee provides across party lines and numerous issue areas through the work they do. Thank you, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs!

The students also enjoyed lunch with Samantha Kelty, Managing Staff Attorney, Morgan Saunders, Staff Attorney, and Denver Jacket, Paralegal, of the Native American Rights Fund’s (NARF) Washington, D.C. office. They learned about the important voting rights litigation, cultural protection, and appellate and Supreme Court briefing work they do. They also learned about the history of the oldest and largest national law firm dedicated to protecting Native rights. Thank you, NARF!

Finally, the students concluded their week with a terrific panel made up of Sun Devil ILP alums Rebecca Ross (’10), Senior Attorney, Indian Resources Section, Department of Justice; Rani Williams (‘18), Legislative Assistant, Congressmember Sharice Davids; and Jens Camp (’21), Associate, Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker, and ILP Advisory Council Member Larry Roberts, General Counsel, Mohegan Tribe. The panel shared career tips, discussed their legal work experience in Washington, D.C., and responded to questions with invaluable advice. Thank you, Larry, Rebecca, Rani, and Jens!

Indian Rights Summer Fellowship recipients

Posted on October 18, 2022 by dwilliams

The Indian Legal Program has been partnering with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) and receives grant funding to offer Indian Rights Summer Fellowship, which allows students to design their summer job. The purpose of the Indian Rights Summer Fellowship is to promote public service in Indian country by providing funding to students who are working on legal issues affecting individual Indians or Indian Nations. The Fellowship provide students with an opportunity to undertake practical experiences with tribes, tribal/indigenous organizations, educational programs and/or nonprofits. This year, five students received the Indian Rights Summer Fellowship and share their summer job experiences.

Over the summer, Gwendolyn Bell (3L) worked with the Portland Area Indian Health Board on health policy projects and research. One of the projects she worked on was a Long-Term Care resource for Washington state, which provides detailed information on long-term health care services including information on staffing, building, care, and other requirements. It also includes sources for funding and other resources, and links to the Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code pertaining to that service. Bell also worked in making a resource for internal use of federal legislation and policy about Indian health. Finally, she assisted in preparing a bi-weekly legislation and policy update for member Tribes and organizations. The newsletter update presented information on new policies and legislation in the health care and Indian health areas, as well as information on town halls, Tribal leader meetings, and opportunities to write comments on pending policy.

“I am incredibly grateful for the funding provided to me by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, as I would have been unable to accept this incredible opportunity otherwise,” Bell said. “I greatly enjoyed my experience this summer and learned a vast amount about the field which will help me in my career.”

Ashleigh Fixico (3L) had the honor of working with ILP alum, Judge Diane Humetewa (’93) in the Arizona Federal District Court. “Having the opportunity to be in the courtroom and experience live proceedings was the highlight of my law school career, which began during the height of COVID and virtual learning,” Fixico said. She enjoyed working with another ILP alum, Alexander Mallory (’19), a law clerk to Judge Humetewa. “He always provided helpful advice and the sincerest interest in you as a person. This summer was about growing up and accepting that my career as a student is almost over. I am thankful for Judge Humetewa and her chambers for taking me in and offering me space to grow into the individual I came to law school to become.”

Ryan Maxey (3L) spent the summer working as an intern for Denise Turner-Walsh, attorney general of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians. “It was an incredible opportunity where I got to utilize my knowledge of federal Indian law in a practical setting,” Maxey said. He researched and briefed the AG and other tribal government officials on evolving areas of federal law, including environmental and labor law, as they applied to the tribe. He also worked on fee-to-trust applications and helped draft HEARTH act-compliant residential leasing regulations. “I’m incredibly grateful that my Salt River Fellowship helped make this experience possible,” Maxey said.

“I’m incredibly grateful that my Salt River Fellowship helped make this experience possible,” Maxey said.

Sophie Staires (2L) worked as a legal intern for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Prosecutor’s Office. She worked closely with the criminal team and was able to participate in a number of dependency cases as well. She hit the ground running and was tasked with reviewing new police reports and helping prosecutors with charging decisions and drafting complaints. Before long she was assisting prosecutors by writing and filing motions, compiling documents for disclosure, and negotiating plea deals with defense advocates. Staires sat in on arraignments and hearings 3-4 days a week, and eventually obtained a license to speak in court. Now she is able to assist with weekly arraignments.

“Representing the Community in court is an honor and a privilege, and not one that I take lightly,” Staires said. “It is intimidating, but the attorneys are so supportive, making it the perfect place to work on litigation skills and build confidence.”

Over the summer, she collaborated with another fellow ILP intern, Alexandra Trousdale, on a research project: how different jurisdictions handle competency determinations and civil commitment. At the end of the summer, they presented on the Supreme Court decision Oklahoma v Castro-Huerta and its implications for tribal jurisdictions before the Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) board.

“I think my favorite part of the summer was working with defense counsel to put together a plea deal,” she said. “It is an honor to have the trust of the prosecutors, and a relationship of mutual respect with the defense attorneys. My time at Salt River has shown me that it is possible to create a criminal justice system that is supportive, rehabilitative, and community oriented. It has been an incredible experience and has fueled my passion for serving tribal communities.”

Alexandra Trousdale (1L) worked for the Tribal Prosecutors Office at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community over the past summer. She had the opportunity to get a diverse taste of legal practice in both civil and criminal prosecution. Trousdale observed several court proceedings and provided insight in various cases, including criminal prosecution, mental health evaluation, and child dependency. She also drafted disclosure statements, deferred prosecution agreements and plea agreements and took lead in plea negotiations with defense attorneys. At end of the summer, she led a presentation with a fellow ILP intern, Sophie Staires, on the Castro-Huerta decision before the NABA-AZ board.

Fellowship Opportunities

Posted on September 21, 2022 by dwilliams

US Presidential Management Fellows Program

Opportunity – Application deadline: September 27, 2022
2023 Application Become A PMF | PMF |

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children – Tribal Fellow

Opportunity – Application deadline: October 14, 2022
Tribal Fellow – Career Portal (dayforcehcm.com)

In Memory of Rob Rosette (’96)

Posted on September 20, 2022 by dwilliams

The Indian Legal Program (ILP) and Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University mourn the loss of Robert “Rob” Rosette, JD/MBA class of 1996. On Saturday morning, we lost a friend, an alumnus and a champion for the ILP.

Rob Rosette was a prominent figure in the Indian law community. In addition to advancing the careers of other Native professionals, he was dedicated to improving the legal landscape for tribal communities across the country. Early in his career, he founded a law firm to provide essential federal Indian law and other legal services exclusively to tribal clients. Rosette LLP began as a solo practice and grew into a national firm, supported by 24 attorneys, paralegals and support staff, including a large representation of ASU ILP alumni, with offices in Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Washington D.C. and Michigan

Rob, as he was known to his friends and colleagues, was a proud ASU ILP alum who regularly supported law students through scholarships, job opportunities and mentorship. He served on the ILP advisory council since 2012, to help the Program grow and recruit top Indian Law students. He also established a large endowment to fund and create the Rosette American Indian Economic Development Program in 2014. The endowment supports work and research in tribal economic development and was established to encourage more students to practice in this important area of law. The Rosette American Indian Economic Development Program’s annual “Wiring the Rez” conference has generated over $330,000 in funding for student scholarships and program operations since its inception.

Rob’s dedication to tribal sovereignty and tribal people will always be remembered, and his friendship, mentorship and laughter will be missed by all of us. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Sharon, his children Wyatt (ASU Law ’17), Thane, Keturah and their spouses.

Service for Rob Rosette:

Service on Friday (9/23) at 9 – 11 a.m. Gravesite visit at 12 p.m.

Location: Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care – 400 S. Power Rd Mesa AZ 85206.

You can learn more about Rob Rosette’s impact on and involvement with the Indian Legal Program in the ASU News article Rosette law firm founder thankful for family environment he found at ASU.

Election Protection Volunteers needed

Posted on September 15, 2022 by dwilliams

Are you interested in making a difference in Arizona Native American communities this voting season? If you are interested in volunteering on Election Day, November 8, sign up for one of the volunteer training sessions.

Nov. 1
6-8 p.m.
Room 240
Beus Center for Law and Society, Phoenix, AZ

Nov. 3
12-1:30 p.m.
Online