Indian Legal Clinic offers rights restoration to the Hopi Tribe

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On Nov. 30, the Indian Legal Clinic (ILC) partnered with the Hopi Tribe and hosted a Rights Restoration Workshop to offer free legal assistance with restoring civil rights after a felony conviction. Student attorneys Maryam Salazar (3L), Clayton Kinsey (3L) and Natalia Sells (3L) traveled with Director Patty Ferguson-Bohnee and Democracy Director Joel Edman to Kykotsmovi Village, Arizona on the Hopi Reservation to meet with the Hopi Chairman, Timothy Nuvangyaoma, and other tribal members to present information on rights restoration. During the workshop, the student attorneys presented information on the rights restoration process for single and multiple felonies, marijuana expungement and the set aside process.

“It was an enriching experience to go out to the Hopi reservation and have their tribal leaders really engage with the information we were sharing, including how they could implement it into their tribal community programs,” said Natalia.

In Arizona, if a person is convicted of a felony, they automatically lose certain civil rights. These include: the right to vote, to hold public office, to serve on a jury and to possess a firearm.

Native populations are disproportionately impacted by these punitive laws due to being overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Arizona has more restrictive felony disfranchisement laws than 40 other states, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona (ACLU) of Arizona. The Sentencing Project reported Arizona disenfranchised over 5% of the voting population in 2022, almost half of those disenfranchised had completely served their sentence.

The ILC remains dedicated to supporting citizens’ equal opportunity to vote.

“It’s insane to see how much rights restoration workshops are needed in the community and how many people would benefit from having their rights restored who may or may not know they need it,” said Natalia.

“This experience was great because it allowed us to apply what we learned in the classroom setting to the real world, especially in tribal communities. Working with real clients shows the impact our legal education can have in our own communities.”

We look forward to future community partnership events and appreciate the Hopi Tribe for hosting the Rights Restoration Workshop. 

ILC photographed with Hopi Tribe Elections Board

For more information, please contact Joel Edman at jedman@asu.edu. If you need your rights restored in Arizona, please submit this form.

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Honore Callingham (’18)
Law Fellow, Indian Legal Clinic, ASU Law

Job opportunity: Yurok Tribe General Counsel

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Yurok Tribe
Office of the Tribal Attorney
Klamath, CA
General Counsel
Salary: $128,835.20 – Negotiable DOE

Under the general supervision of the Yurok Tribal Council, the General Counsel will assist the Yurok Tribal Council and Tribal Departments in the legal matters related to the business of the Yurok Tribe. Incumbent will be responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling all activities of the Office of the Tribal Attorney. The General Counsel will ensure the efficient and economical use of the resources of the department, including budgeted funds, grant monies, personnel, facilities, and time, to accomplish short-term and long-range objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Perform legal research including extensive analysis of legal positions. Determine and apply legal principles and precedents to problems and issues.
  2. Provides legal advice, counsel and assistance to the Tribal Council and departments in relation to their duties and the operation of the Tribe and its programs in compliance with the Constitution, laws, and policies of the Yurok Tribe.
  3. Negotiates Federal and State contracts.
  4. Provides opinions concerning personnel policies and procedures.
  5. Provides legal advice related to employment classification and dispute resolution.
  6. Drafts appropriate ordinances and policies that assist in the implementation of the Tribe’s Self-Governance objectives.
  7. Represents the Tribe in Indian Child Welfare cases as needed.
  8. Provides opinions on, drafts documents and policies, and attends meetings concerning regulatory and environmental matters.
  9. Reviews and approves contracts entered into by the Tribe.
  10. Prepares legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of a case.
  11. Manages all outside legal counsel.
  12. Promotes tribal sovereignty in alignment with the Constitution and laws of the Yurok Tribe.
  13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Review full job description: 2023 General Counsel

Apply at: www.yuroktribe.org/jobs

Native American Heritage Month at ASU Law

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To kick off Native American Heritage month, the ILP invited all of ASU Law to a movie screening of Killers of the Flower Moon on Nov. 3.

Professor Robert Miller and panelists appeared on The Scholars’ Circle podcast segment “Osage Nation (tribe): history, oil, murders and gender dynamics.” In the panel, Miller discussed the legal situation and exploitation of Native Peoples in Oklahoma.

The ASU Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) visited the Honorable Diane Humetewa (’93), a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, at the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse.

On Nov. 8, NALSA and the American Constitution Society co-hosted a lunch lecture featuring Professor Robert Miller and discussed Native American influence on the U.S. Constitution. 

On Nov. 15, NALSA hosted a brown bag luncheon with April Olson (’06), partner at Rothstein Donatelli LLP and Kiyoko Patterson (’03), Assistant U.S. Attorney. We appreciate Rothstein Donatelli LLP for sponsoring this event.

On Nov. 18, students gathered for a “NALSA Friendsgiving” to strengthen community and enjoy a good meal.

NALSA students held a food drive and delivered donations to the Phoenix Indian Center.

In late October, ASU NALSA spent an afternoon with Ron Rosier (’95), of counsel at Lewis Roca and Steven Heeley, of counsel at Rothstein Donatelli LLP and learned about career opportunities for Indian law attorneys.

Job opportunity: State Policy Advocates

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Protect Democracy is hiring State Policy Advocates in Arizona and Nevada. You can find that job posting here; Full listing of jobs is here.

Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to preventing American democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. Our diverse, cross-ideological team defends elections, the rule of law, and fact-based political debate against authoritarian threats, and works to shape a better democracy for future generations. 

The State Policy Advocate will be Protect Democracy’s advocacy lead in Arizona or Nevada, working with our full team to design, execute, and contribute to a variety of initiatives that achieve impact and advance Protect Democracy’s mission. The ideal candidates bring a strategic approach and superb communication skills; a flexible, growth-oriented mindset and collaborative approach; a commitment to excellence; and enthusiasm for our mission. 

We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and with policy views across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. Finally, we do not expect any candidate to have 100% of the qualifications listed. 

Job opportunity: Attorney-Advisor

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Office of the Solicitor
U.S. Department of the Interior, Division of Water Resources  

Attorney-Advisor. Phoenix, Arizona (Telework eligible). The Solicitor’s Office performs a wide variety of the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior. The selected Attorney-Advisor will report to the Division of Water Resources, Branch of Water and Power and provide legal advice on and legal services for matters pertaining to various federal agencies but primarily to the Bureau of Reclamation, including guidance related to federal water-related contracts with Reclamation water users in the western states, including municipalities, water and irrigation districts, and Native American tribes, and interpretation of western water law, 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, and other relevant federal laws. Applicants should have the ability to interact and negotiate with Tribes, States, and local governmental entities, regarding contracts, agreements, and other matters.

In addition, SOL attorneys perform the legal work of the Interior and represent the Interior in administrative hearings. SOL works in conjunction with the Department of Justice in representing the Interior in judicial proceedings throughout the United States.  SOL also provides legal assistance in drafting and reviewing proposed legislation, regulations, contracts, title documents, and other legal instruments. Closing date: Friday, October 27, 2023.

More information
Position Title:  Attorney-Advisor
Series/Grade:  GS-0905-12/13/14 (FPL 14)
Duty Station:  Phoenix, AZ
Open Period:  10/13/2023 to 10/27/2023 

Announcement #:  SOL-DWR-24-VN-003 (EXC)

USAJOBS Posting: USAJOBS – Job Announcement

Celebrating excellence, one award at a time

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The Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) held its 2023 Annual Seven Generations Awards Dinner and Silent Auction and honored several of our ILP family. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients! ILP advisory council member Judith Dworkin received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Angela Willeford-Salazar (MLS ’23) with the Office of Congressional & Legislative Affairs’ Get Out the Vote Committee received the Community Leadership Award and Kiyoko Patterson (’03) received the Member of the Year Award.

Eleven ASU Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) students received the NABA-AZ Scholarship for their academic achievement. Congratulations to ILP students: Rachel Carroll (3L), Keely Driscoll (2L), Shandiin Herrera (2L), Clayton Kinsey (3L), Kaleb Lester (2L), Sadie Red Eagle (2L), Maryam Salazar (3L), Natalia Sells (3L), Ronnie Strode III (1L), Alexandra Trousdale (3L) and Makai Zuniga (2L).

The NABA-AZ are integral to student success and we appreciate their commitment to ILP students.

Tribal exhibit features Professor Robert Miller

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Professor Robert Miller’s tribe is currently hosting an exhibit in his honor, showcasing his accomplishments at the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Library.