Professor Robert Miller’s tribe is currently hosting an exhibit in his honor, showcasing his accomplishments at the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Library.
Superior Court judge for Coconino County
Applications are being accepted for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Coconino
County created by the retirement of Hon. Dan Slayton.
Deadline to apply: Oct. 13 (3pm)
See news release.
Student attorneys representing in Tribal Courts
In September, Professor Patty Ferguson-Bohnee and the Indian Legal Clinic students Autumn Adams (3L), Clayton Kinsey (3L), Maryam Salazar (3L), Natalia Sells (3L), Sophie Staires (3L) and Alexandra Trousdale (3L) traveled to the Gila River Indian Community Courthouse in Sacaton, Arizona and observed arraignments in person.
While at the Court, the Clinic student attorneys were sworn in to the Gila River Indian Community Court by Chief Judge Anthony Hill (’06). Judge Charles Aragon led an informative tour during which the students met other judges and staff. Before visiting the courthouse, the student attorneys met with members of the Gila River Prosecutor’s Office. ILC student attorneys work with the Gila River Prosecutor’s Office on traffic trials. Staires was prepared to represent the Gila River Indian Community in a civil traffic trial, but exercised prosecutorial discretion after investigating the facts.
On Sept. 29, Kinsey, Sells and Trousdale made their first appearance in the Ak-Chin Indian Community Court with supervising attorney Kate Rosier, to represent defendants at arraignment hearings.
Kinsey and Trousdale share their student perspective with the ASU Indian Legal Clinic.
Kinsey: Getting the opportunity to take on cases through the Ak-Chin Tribal Court, as a defense student attorney, is some of the most meaningful work I’ve done in law school. We get to work directly with real clients that are often facing substantial consequences if convicted. It’s a pleasure to provide them legal assistance while gaining real-world experience.
I would advise anyone considering a clinic to jump right in. In two months, I’ve learned so much about the courtroom, evidentiary proceedings, and working with actual clients. Working in Tribal Courts is something that so few law schools offer—I feel privileged to attend a law school that prioritizes such a connection to the surrounding Tribal communities.
Trousdale: Practicing in tribal court as a law student is a great experience. As someone who wants to be a litigator in tribal court, my experience in the clinic gives me time and experience to learn about the process, procedures and practice before entering my career. I enjoy having the opportunity to work with real clients. It helps prepare me for different situations I may face when I begin working. As well, it gives me a better understanding of applying the law to different cases.
My advice for future clinic students is to go in with an open mind. There are a lot of valuable learning experiences in the clinic. You may have an idea of the kind of work you want to do after school, but the clinic can show you other fields of work you may enjoy that you have otherwise not considered or ruled out completely.
On Oct. 5, Salazar made her first appearance with supervising attorney Ferguson-Bohnee, also to represent a defendant at an arraignment hearing.
The Indian Legal Clinic appreciates the Gila River Indian Community and Ak-Chin Indian Community for providing clinic students formative career experiences.
Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs hosts conference at ASU California Center
On Oct. 4, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Event Center at ASU California Center hosted the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs to learn more about Trends in Indian Gaming. Participants were warmly welcomed by Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Steve Bodmer (’06), from the Pechanga Band of Indians led the event discussing “Current Trends in Indian Gaming – A West Coast Perspective.” Third-year law students Maryam Salazar and Clayton Kinsey facilitated the next panel on the “West Flagler Litigation,” and they were joined by ASU Law’s Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Director Derrick Beetso (’10), Steve Hart from Lewis Roca and Timothy Evans from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Christy Hubbard from Lewis Roca engaged the audience at lunch with “‘20 Pairs of Gladiators’ and JB Smoove Walk into a Bar in Pompeii . . . Sports, Gambling, & Advertising Law for Every Age (You’ve Come a Long Way Baby).” Salazar and Kinsey also facilitated the final panel, “Lessons from Lac du Flambeau,” and were joined by Ron Rosier (’95) from Lewis Roca and ASU Law Professor Laura Coordes.
Thank you to our speakers and host for a successful event. We appreciate the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ support of legal education for American Indians and Lewis Roca for sponsoring coffee.
For anyone who could not attend, a recording will be available on the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs website:
law.asu.edu/igg
Consulting with ILP students
In August, ILP students Keely Driscoll (2L), Shandiin Herrera (2L), Morgan Oakes (2L), Sophie Staires (3L) and Natalia Sells (3L) traveled to O’ahu to assist Professor Derrick Beetso (’10) with a consultation project involving Native Hawaiians and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).
“It was great learning how different communities can participate in the rulemaking process,” said Oakes. “There is nothing that can replicate listening to community members discussing their past experience and concerns with proposed regulations.”
“I really appreciated the opportunity to attend the Honolulu session and learn more about Hawaiian governmental structures and histories that guide the consultation process and responses there,” said Driscoll. “I learned just how distinct the conversations taking place in Hawaii are from those taking place in the states.”
Also pictured: Colin Kippen, interim CEO, OHA.
Job opportunity: Attorney-Adviser
Department of the Interior
Office of the Solicitor
Phoenix, AZ
This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.
Merit promotion procedures do not apply.
This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.
As an Attorney-Adviser with the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Intermountain region, Phoenix Field Office, located in Phoenix, AZyour specific duties will include:
- Providing advice on and legal services for matters pertaining to the various agencies within the Department of the Interior, primarily for, but not limited to, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.
- Providing advice and legal services on the topics of public lands management and western water law relating to laws and regulations of general applicability to Federal agencies, such as the Federal Land Management and Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, National Reclamation Act, and other relevant federal laws.
- Providing litigation support on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior and various Interior agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, to the Department of Justice and practicing before the Interior Board of Land Appeals.
- Involves knowledge of water law; public lands law; federal and state litigation procedure; the federal Indian trust responsibility and statutes relating to interactions between the federal government and Tribes; federal environmental laws; real property laws; contracts, financial assistance, and cooperative agreements.
- Requires the ability to analyze legal requirements and succinctly provide advice and counsel to technical/non-legal professionals; and the ability to interact and negotiate with outside entities, including Tribes, States, and local governmental entities, regarding contracts, agreements, and other matters.
For full job description and to apply, go to Job Posting.
Job opportunity: MMIP Regional Coordinator
Applications are now being accepted for an MMIP Regional Coordinator GS-12, in the Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff offices.
Deadline: 10/4/23
$86,343 – $112,246 per year
At the full performance level, as a Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Coordinator in the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) and designated MMIP Regional Outreach Program Region, you will join a team responsible for carrying out the public safety mission of the Department of Justice, the Program Region, and USAOs in the District of Alaska, Oregon, Arizona, Western Michigan, or Northern Oklahoma. In this role, you will perform a variety of duties to promote the effective communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, state, Tribal and local law enforcement, and non-governmental resources to prevent and resolve Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) related cases and issues.
Announcement link open to the public: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/750069000
Announcement link for federal employees and individuals eligible for special hiring authorities: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/750067900
Job opportunity: Associate Attorney Position
Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP is seeking applications for an Associate Attorney who will work in-person in the Washington, DC office.
Hobbs Straus is a national law firm with offices in Washington, DC; Portland, OR; Oklahoma City, OK; and Sacramento, CA. Hobbs Straus specializes in Federal Indian Law and has worked for 40 years to realize positive change in Indian Country. Our attorneys are dedicated to promoting and defending Tribal Nations’ rights and exercise of sovereignty, expanding opportunities for Tribal Nations, and improving the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Qualifications for candidates include:
- A strong academic performance;
- Superior research and writing skills;
- Strong communication skills; and
- A commitment to Federal Indian Law.
The position would begin immediately upon hire.
To apply, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, writing sample, and references to Tisa Perry at bperry@hobbsstraus.com.
Please reach out to Tisa or to Katie Klass at kklass@hobbsstraus.com with any questions. We will contact all applicants after we make our hiring decision. However, should you receive another offer or otherwise want an update before you hear from us, please reach out to Tisa or Katie.
Thank you for your interest in Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP.
Washington, DC Office Location:
1899 L Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 822-8282
Job opening: ASU Tribal Relations Director
Arizona State University
Office of Government & Community Engagement
Serves as primary liaison between the University and tribal nations/communities locally, regionally, and globally to develop partnerships and seek to embrace and connect with tribal communities enabling both success of American Indian students by providing a climate of cultural respect and inclusion, and research integrity when working with tribal nations, communities, and native people.
Works in partnership with the Special Advisor to the President to assist the Office of American Indian initiatives.
Indian Law articles published by ASU Law students
We are so proud of our recent grads! ASU Law’s legal writing program has prepared ILP alumni Noah Goldenberg (’23) and Claire Newfeld (’23) with valuable skills needed for the legal profession.
Goldenberg was one of 25 recipients of the Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award – Law School from the Burton Awards for his article “Indian Embryos as ‘Indian Children?’”
Newfeld won The Scribes Law-Review Award for her paper “Indian Boarding School Deaths and the Federal Tort Claims Act: A Route to a Remedy.”
Both of their articles were published in the Arizona State Law Journal.
Read more in the ASU Law Newsroom article: ASU Law students win national legal writing awards