Flying Southwest? Bart Harris (’08) is featured in a photo in the SouthWest Airlines Spirit Magazine on page 107. He is closest to the middle of the page. Bart graudated with a JD/MBA this year.
Category Archives: Alumni
Christopher Clark Deschene (’05) – District 2 Winner
Chabin retains House seat for Flag
J. FERGUSON Sun Staff Reporter Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Flagstaff will keep one local representative in the gerrymandered Legislative District 2, and it will be the incumbent, state Rep. Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff. Chabin finished second in a three-person primary race to select two House members from LD2, which includes the city of the Flagstaff and the much larger Navajo Nation. The leading vote-getter was Christopher Clark Deschene, a Window Rock attorney. Finishing third and out of the running was Flagstaff contractor Mark Haughwout. Because there are no Republicans on the November ballot, Chabin and Deschene are virtually assured of election.
In the Senate Republican primary in Legislative District 1, another gerrymandered district that includes the unincorporated communities around Flagstaff but is centered in Yavapai County, veteran lawmaker Tom O’Halleran lost his seat to Prescott rancher Steve Pierce. Because there are no Democrats on the November ballot, Pierce has the seat virtually locked up.
BUDGET THE TOP CONCERN Speaking from his home on the Rez with his wife an infant son watching the polls over the Internet, Deschene said he was thrilled with the results.”We are very excited here, there is a lot of energy here,” Deschene said, He said concerns on how to balance the budget on during an economic downturn without cutting vital services would be his primary concern when taking office in January. “The budget is my number one concern,” he said. “Once we get a handle on that we can focus on a number of issues important to northern Arizona. “Deschene said he hoped to focus on water and environmental issues during his first year in office.
Chabin said he was appreciative that the voters would send him back to the Legislature.”I’m very grateful. I’ve enjoyed working in the Legislature for about a year and serving as a member of the House,” Chabin said. “Winning the election in my own right makes me very, very grateful.”Top priorities next session: Education, health care and funding mental health services. He said funding would be the biggest hurdle.”For the state of Arizona to step up to the challenges of adequately funding education,” Chabin said.Chabin proposes taking funding question to the voters.He said with the loss of O’Halleran he will need to work harder in finding allies in the Republican Party for legislation.”We’re going to have to work harder to seek moderation and reaching across the isle. This is certainly true if Sen. O’Halleran does not win his election” he said.
LABELED AN OUTSIDER Haughwout was labeled an outsider in the Democratic Party, dropped from campaign literature and not invited to some party functions after launching a legal challenge against both Deschene and state Rep. Albert Tom. At issue were the addresses used on nominating petition signatures for the candidates, and the challenge eventually led to Tom dropping out of the race when he conceded he did not have enough valid signatures. Deschene survived the legal challenge. Haughwout’s challenge to signatures mostly gathered on the Rez seemingly backfired as Haughwout’s campaign got less than 15 percent of the votes on the Rez.
NO NEW LAWS In Senate District 1, O’Halleran became a target of some Republicans who question his loyalty to the party and asked Pierce to run against the former Chicago police officer. Pierce outspent O’Halleran by a wide margin, $226,145 compared to $68,240.Pierce said during the campaign he had no intention of writing any new laws.”I’m for less government,” Pierce said in an August interview.He said the Legislature writes too many bills and he would avoid introducing new legislation if possible.Pierce was not available for comment Tuesday night.
LD2-HouseDemocratic Primary
Deschene/10,443/51.4%
Chabin/6,835/33.7%
Haughwout/3,032/14.9%
LD1-SenateRepublican Primary
Pierce/12,280/52.9%
O’Halleran/10,918/47.1%
Jeff Harmon (’05) Chosen for Bar Leadership Program
Fifteen Attorneys Chosen for Bar Leadership Program
PHOENIX — August 21, 2008 — The State Bar of Arizona has named 15 attorneys to its annual Bar Leadership Institute, a one-year program designed to foster the professional growth and enhance the leadership skills of a diverse group of Arizona attorneys
The attorneys participating in the class are:
* Wendy Akbar, Quarles & Brady LLP, Phoenix
* Jessica Benford, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, Phoenix
* Flynn Carey, Gallagher & Kennedy PA, Phoenix
* Ann Marie Chischilly, Gila Indian River Community, Chandler
* Franci Fealk, Kutak Rock LLP, Scottsdale
* Jeffery Harmon, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Scottsdale
* Isaac Hernandez, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Phoenix
* Mingyi Kang, Gust Rosenfeld PLC, Phoenix
* Jennifer Larson, Gust Rosenfeld PLC, Phoenix
* Tamara Mulembo, Pima County Public Defender’s Office, Tucson
* Zarinah Nadir, Arizona State University, Mesa
* Sonia Nayeri, Jones Skelton & Hochuli PLC, Phoenix
* Anita Simons, Pima County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix
* Michael Somsan, Community Legal Services, Phoenix
* Nina Targovnik, Community Legal Services, Phoenix
Beginning in September, the attorneys will attend monthly programs in leadership, ethics and career development. Throughout the year, participants will also have the opportunity to meet with judges, Congressional representatives, lobbyists and in-house counsel to experience the diversity of the legal profession.
Following completion of the first year, participants must commit to one year of participation in a State Bar committee or section and/or another bar association or community organization.
Alumni: Dorinda Strmiska (’06)
Dorinda Strmiska (’06) was recently hired as a Staff Attorney for California Indian Legal Services. Congrats Dorinda!
Alumni: Sheri Freemont (’01)
Congratulations to Sheri Freemont, Chief Prosecutor of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community. She was recently received the “2008 Director of the Year” award from the Community. Tribal leadership said Ms. Freemont has significantly contributed to the betterment of services of the Community by her amazing leadership.
Alumni: Elizabeth Cheney (’05)
Alumni: Dawn Bitz (’03)
ILP ALUMNI & COMMUNITY SURVEYS
Dear Alumni, Current Students & Indian Law Community —
The Indian Legal Program is currently developing a new strategic plan. We do not want to complete the process without you. Your thoughts and comments will help us establish priorities and determine our strengths and weaknesses. This survey covers numerous topics including fundraising, curriculum, areas for growth, etc. and also includes a section for general comments and new ideas.
To make it as easy as possible, we have created an on-line survey to gather information. The Alumni survey is for people who attended ASU College of Law and participated in the Indian Legal Program. The Community survey is for people who know about or may have worked with the Indian Legal Program. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by clicking on the link below. If your link does not automatically take you to the survey, please cut and paste the link into your browser. Your submissions are anonymous. We are only provided the results.
ALUMNI LINK
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ZkT891bvzvgm24zzVYYrjg_3d_3d
COMMUNITY LINK
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2f_2f0n_2f_2fpGpTKMUZSuA6Zjqw_3d_3d
I know your time is valuable. Thank you in advance for your support and feedback.
Kate Rosier, Director
Indian Legal Program
(480) 965-6204
Intertribal Court of Southern California – Temet Aguilar (’02)
New home more centrally located, officials say
By EDWARD SIFUENTES – Staff Writer Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:05 PM PDT
By EDWARD SIFUENTES – Staff Writer Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:05 PM PDT
The Intertribal Court of Southern California has a new home at the Rincon Indian Reservation. Lisa Powless, the court’s clerk, answers phones at the new location. (Photo by Edward Sifuentes – Staff Photographer) The Intertribal Court of Southern California has a new home at the Rincon Indian Reservation. Temet Aguilar, the court’s administrator, said the facility is scheduled for a grand opening ceremony Friday. (Photo by Edward Sifuentes – Staff Photographer)
RINCON INDIAN RESERVATION —- The fledgling Intertribal Court of Southern California has a new home at the Rincon Indian Reservation.The 3-year-old court deals with legal issues that arise on local American Indian reservations, such as civil disputes and land use, housing and family matters. It serves as an appeals court, mediator and arbitrator for 10 San Diego County tribes.Until earlier this month, the court was housed in an office building in Escondido. The Rincon tribe offered to remodel a building at its reservation on Golsh Road. The building was formerly occupied by the Indian Health Council, a clinic serving local tribal communities.Rincon will lease the building to the court for $1 a year, said Temet Aguilar, the court’s administrator. On Wednesday, construction workers were at work remodeling the 4,000-square-foot building, half of which will be used by the court. The space includes a reception area, administrative offices, a library, a conference room and a courtroom. The building is more than just a new home for the fledgling court, Aguilar said. “What this represents is the tribes entering into the modern era of their development by exercising their sovereignty,” Aguilar said. In 2006, retired Superior Court Commissioner Anthony Brandenburg was sworn in as the intertribal court’s judge. Brandenburg said the intertribal court fills a judicial gap that was created by the federal government in the 1950s. In California and several other states, law enforcement agencies, such as the sheriff’s department, have jurisdiction over criminal matters under a federal law called Public Law 280. However, sheriff’s deputies cannot enforce laws enacted by tribal governments, such as land use, hunting and illegal dumping ordinances. And outside courts don’t have authority to settle disputes among tribal members, such as trespassing, evictions and other minor infractions. Federal courts handle felony cases on the reservations. On local reservations, tribal councils, usually made up of five elected officials, serve as “judges” over disputes that occur in their reservations. They also are sometimes called upon to settle patron disputes in their casinos.Since most local tribes are small, family conflicts can often occur when disputes erupt in tribal communities. For tribes that participate in the system, the intertribal court serves as an independent judiciary, where people can appeal tribal council decisions, Brandenburg said. The court “takes the personal and political aspect out of it,” Brandenburg said. The member tribes are: Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Nation, Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Cupeno Indians, Pauma Yuima Band of Mission Indians, Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno Indians and Jamul Indian Village. The intertribal court is largely funded by its member tribes and assistance from the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, a nonprofit organization that administers various welfare, educational and cultural programs for local tribes. Last year, the intertribal court handled about 100 cases. Most of the cases involved trespass disputes and family matters, such as child custody and child support disputes. It served as a mediator or arbiter in about 25 other cases, Aguilar said. The new location, which is more centrally located for most local tribes, may drive up demand for the court. It is also conveniently located near the Indian Health Council, which serves many of the same tribes as the court, said Court Clerk Lisa Powless. “I feel more involved in the community,” Powless said referring to the new location. “I like it.”
Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.
NPR on Dorgan Bill
Below is a link to the audio of the NPR story on the Dorgan bill. Salt River President Diane Enos (’92) is quoted both in the short article and is interviewed in the audio.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92833011
Nation
Bill Bolsters Tribal Power To Prosecute Rape Cases
by Jenny Gold
Previous Coverage
In an award-winning series, NPR’s Laura Sullivan reported on the prevalence of rape on tribal lands and the difficulty in prosecuting sexual assault cases.
July 25, 2007Rape Cases On Indian Lands Go Uninvestigated
July 26, 2007Legal Hurdles Stall Rape Cases On Native Lands
All Things Considered, July 23, 2008 · Native American women are far more likely to be raped than other women – and tribal officials say many incidents on reservations across the country go unreported and uninvestigated, NPR’s Laura Sullivan reported a year ago on All Things Considered.
The Justice Department estimates that 1 in 3 Native American women will be raped in her lifetime, and most victims who do report their assaults describe their attackers as non-Native. Legally, tribal authorities can do little to stop them. Chickasaw Tribal Police Chief Jason O’Neal told NPR in 2007 that “many of the criminals know Indian lands are almost a lawless community that they can do whatever they want.”
For the past year, the Senate has held hearings on reservations nationwide on how to stop the assaults. The resulting legislation, called the Tribal Law and Order Act, was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday by Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, who is chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
Dorgan’s bill has three primary goals. First, it would make it easier for tribal police like O’Neal to arrest non-Indians who commit federal crimes on tribal lands, including sexual assault. Second, it would increase the sentencing power of tribal courts by allowing them to put convicted tribal members behind bars for three years instead of one – and even send them to federal prison. Third, the bill would increase accountability for U.S. attorneys by requiring them to keep a record of every case on tribal lands they decline to prosecute.
“I think now the women finally have a voice,” said Georgia Littleshield, director of the Pretty Bird Woman House domestic violence shelter on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in South Dakota.
“I sit with women who cry and are mad because the feds didn’t want to pick up the case. This bill, I think, would give women more of a right, that the prosecutor’s got to be more accountable for federal jurisdiction on these cases. And he’s going to have to be accountable for the cases he doesn’t prosecute,” Littleshield said.
But others have their doubts about the legislation, including Diane Enos, president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona. She says the bill is better than nothing, but it doesn’t do enough. With money from their successful gaming casinos, the Pima-Maricopa tribe has been able to hire its own police. But even with extra security for the community, tribal officials still cannot prosecute non-Indian assailants.
“You’ve got Congress people who are scared stiff of seeing tribes get authority over non-Indians. I’m not sure that they understand why, but it’s almost a knee-jerk reaction. If they came, took the time to come here to look at our courts, our police departments and the due process we afford, maybe they would feel a little bit different,” Enos says.
The Justice Department is concerned that giving tribes the right to send offenders to federal prisons will cause overcrowding.
Nonetheless, the Senate bill is gaining bipartisan momentum. A companion bill is expected soon in the House.