JOB: Picayune Rancheria

In House Legal Counsel

The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians located in Coarsegold, California. Thirty minutes north of Fresno and a very short drive to beautiful Yosemite National Park, is looking for an In-House Legal Counsel. The In-House Legal Counsel provides legal advice on legal issues confronting the Tribal Government or any of the Tribe’s entities or departments. In addition, the Tribe’s Legal Counsel researches and writes complex legal opinions, prepares drafts of contracts, notices, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents. Stay current on the status of all laws, statutes, court decisions or other developments that may affect the Tribe, its governmentor any of its entities or departments. Respond to the Tribal Council’s request for legal advice on any issues that may affect its land, government, gaming or any of its entities or departments. Research and recommend the retention of outside legal experts when necessary to address the legal issues that the Tribal Council, the Tribe or any of its entities or departments may face. TheTribal Legal Counsel’s obligation is to ensure that the Tribal Council and the Tribe get the best legal advice on any particular legal issues, and must be professional enough to acknowledge his or her shortcomings in any legal field that may require the retention of an outside law firm.Qualifications: Doctoral Degree (JD); Must be a Member of the California Bar and licensed to practice law in the state of California. It is preferred that the Tribal Attorney have at least 7 to 10 years experience practicing Tribal Law in State and Federal arenas. Must have appropriate litigation experience to be able to evaluate and properly guide the Tribal Council on any litigationmatters. It is preferred the Tribal Attorney have experience in the area of Federal Indian law and Tribal Sovereignty.Tribal Member Preference Applies

Apply at:Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians46575 Road 417, Coarsegold, CA 93614Or call (559) 683-6633 ext.217Send resume to fred.alcorta@chukchansi.net.Closing Date: June 1

Tsosie Stays at ASU!

Great News! Professor Tsosie will stay at ASU! Last week Professor Tsosie sent a note to the Advisory Council, students and alumni stating she will stay at ASU with a slightly reconfigured faculty and administrative role that allows her greater participation at the University level. Patty Ferguson-Bohnee will assume the title of Executive Director on July 1 and Professor Tsosie will be working with her and the other faculty and staff of the ILP on designing the next phase of the Program’s development, which will more fully engage the University’s mission and vision for the future.

Tohono O’odham land into trust issue

Please see the attached order and injunction issued yesterday by Judge Campbell in the federal district court case regarding the Tohono O’odham land into trust issue in Glendale. The Judge has enjoined Interior from taking the land into trust and enjoined Glendale’s annexation of Parcel 2 until the matter is decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

http://turtletalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/injunction-in-gric-v-united-states-05-03-2011.pdf

Tohono O’odham v. Glendale

Tohono O’odham v. Glendale, 1 CA-CV 10-0341 (Ariz. App. May 3, 2011)

The Arizona Court of Appeals issued a decision yesterday reversing summary judgment on the annexation issue:

Excerpt:

The Tohono O’odham Nation (“Nation”) appeals the grant of summary judgment to the City of Glendale (“Glendale”) on Nation’s challenge to Glendale’s purported annexation of real property owned by Nation. For the reasons that follow, we hold that when the validity of a municipality’s annexation ordinance is timely challenged in court, the annexation does not automatically become final thirty days after the ordinance was adopted. Accordingly, we reverse the grant of summary judgment in favor of Glendale and remand for entry of judgment in favor of Nation.

Get the decision: http://azcourts.gov/Portals/89/opinionfiles/CV/CV100341.pdf.

Last week to register for the Indian Legal Program Conference

Last week to register for the Indian Legal Program Conference:
“Treaty to Trust to Carcieri: The Economic Future of Indian Lands CLE Conference.”
Online registration ($350.00) ends April 26 at 5 p.m.
At-the-Door Registration ($400.00) opens at 8 a.m. on April 28.
Earn CLE credits and learn about tribal economic development.
Learn from the experts! Agenda and speaker biographies available on the conference website.

National NALSA Awards

Congratulations to Sean Cahill and Allison Binney! ASU student Sean Cahill was selected the 3L of the Year and ASU alumnus Allison Binney (’00) was selected Alumni of the Year by the National Native American Law Students Association. Winners were announced last week at the Federal Bar Association’s Indian Law Conference. Sean was nominated by ASU NALSA for his leadership within the local chapter. Alison Binney (’00) was nomiated by ASU NALSA because of her leadership at the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs and the support and mentorship she given our students.