Turtle Talk

Public Defender

February 7, 2025Angie Sanchez

LOCATION: Mescalero Apache Tribe, Mescalero, NM

Job Description

The Public Defender will represent individuals subject to any criminal complaint filed in the Mescalero Apache Tribal Court. The Public Defender will work with the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to resolve criminal cases by deferred prosecution for treatment, counseling, family therapy or other options, or plea agreement or trial or sentencing and/or appeal. The Public Defender will work to resolve matters in an ethical and professional manner.

This position description may not include all of the listed duties, nor do all of the listed examples include all tasks, which may be found or assigned to this position.

Duties and Responsibilities
 Represent individuals in criminal court for all matters filed against them.
 Conduct legal research and compose motions and pleas on behalf of the defendants.
 Create forms for eligibility of representation, conflicts, and any other document needed to represent individuals in criminal court.
 Work with the Tribe on any issues involving code development.
 Assist the Chief Judge in the development of the court rules of criminal procedure.
 Develop relationships with the local, state and federal Public Defender’s and Prosecutors office and where necessary, other Tribal Prosecutors and Public Defenders
 Work with the Wellness Court Team to help admit potential individuals into that program, and
 Adhere to the Professional and Ethical Rules of Responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications and Desired or Preferred Qualifications

 1 to 5 years working in a court as a public defender or in a tribal court setting or a court setting of any jurisdiction;
 If no experience, law courses in trial practice, clinical practice, law journal or moot court competition
 Basic understanding of Federal Indian Law, and
 Knowledge of the Mescalero Apache Tribe

Salary range: $58,152.00 to $87,148.00

Open until filled.

Job Summary
The Public Defender will represent individuals subject to any criminal complaint filed in the Mescalero Apache Tribal Court. The Public Defender will work with the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to resolve criminal cases by deferred prosecution for treatment, counseling, family therapy or other options, or plea agreement or trial or sentencing and/or appeal. The Public Defender will work to resolve matters in an ethical and professional manner.

This position description may not include all of the listed duties, nor do all of the listed examples include all tasks, which may be found or assigned to this position.

Duties and Responsibilities
 Represent individuals in criminal court for all matters filed against them.
 Conduct legal research and compose motions and pleas on behalf of the defendants.
 Create forms for eligibility of representation, conflicts, and any other document needed to represent individuals in criminal court.
 Work with the Tribe on any issues involving code development.
 Assist the Chief Judge in the development of the court rules of criminal procedure.
 Develop relationships with the local, state and federal Public Defender’s and Prosecutors office and where necessary, other Tribal Prosecutors and Public Defenders
 Work with the Wellness Court Team to help admit potential individuals into that program, and
 Adhere to the Professional and Ethical Rules of Responsibility.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
 Demonstrate oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to perform legal research and possess analytical skills commensurate with the position of a public defender.
 Demonstrate knowledge of general legal principles in all areas listed in “Duties and Responsibilities”.
 Demonstrate knowledge of Mescalero Apache Law, Federal Indian Law and other relevant law.
 Understand, appreciate and promote the ideas of tribal self-determination and tribal sovereignty as it relates to individual rights.
 Possess and demonstrate a respect and proper candor to the court., and
 Possess a working knowledge of computers and software and office management.

Education
 A law degree from an ABA approved law school.

Licenses and Certifications:
 A state or tribal bar license is preferred although not a pre-requisite to obtaining the appointment. However, the candidate must obtain license to practice law within one year of the date of hire.
 Must possess a valid New Mexico driver’s license and be insurable, and
 Must submit to a background check

Minimum Qualifications
 I to 5 years working in a court as a public defender or in a tribal court setting or a court setting of any jurisdiction;
 If no experience, law courses in trial practice, clinical practice, law journal or moot court competition
 Basic understanding of Federal Indian Law, and
 Knowledge of the Mescalero Apache Tribe

Tribal preference and Native American Indian preference shall apply to all positions.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit for prolonged periods, walk; stand; use hands for dexterity of motion; stoop, bend, kneel or crouch, and have normal auditory and verbal communications skills. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment
Work is generally performed in an office setting with a moderate noise level. Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required. Evening and/or weekend work may be required. Tight time constraints and multiple demands are common.

Salary & Benefits
Negotiable depending on experience.

Tribal Preference Policy: Tribal Ordinance 06-02, preference will be given to qualified Mescalero Apache Tribal Members, members of other federally recognized tribes, and then to Tribal Affiliates. Applicants not entitled 10 the preference will receive consideration without discrimination based on age, sex, disability or national origin.

Please submit an application, cover letter, resume and 3-5 page-writing sample for employment to the Human Resources Department located at the Tribal Offices. Call 575-464-9276 for more information.

RFP for Sealed Proposals

February 7, 2025Angie Sanchez

RFP for Sealed Proposals to supply cleaning services for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Department of Health Services

Location: Mshkiki Community Clinic at 1986 Mall Place, Benton Harbor, MI

Please see the RFP at the link provided here.

Virtual Law Clerk Externship

February 7, 2025Angie Sanchez

Location: REMOTE (Virtual) Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Civil Tribal Court

Job Description/Main Duties

The Rincon Virtual Law Clerk will be working in the leading tribal courts in the country
under the direct supervision of Rincon’s tribal judges. The law clerk will work on projects
related to tribal court development and perform designated duties involving legal
research and writing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This legal externship offers assistance with legal matters involving court development
under the direction and supervision of a licensed attorney. Essential duties and
responsibilities include:

Work on creating Rincon’s common law
Assist with developing court rules
Drafting memo’s, orders, and internal communications
Be on call to assist judge with research questions

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Must be currently enrolled as a 2L or 3L at an ABA accredited law school.
Must have an interest in learning about Tribal Justice Systems.
Preferred candidate has completed coursework in American Indian Law or
Federal Indian Law.
Must be able to conduct legal and general research that is accurate and
thorough.
Must have knowledge of the Tribe’s customs, traditions, and decision-making
processes or be willing to learn.
Must have excellent capacity to organize, establish priorities and meet deadlines.
Prior experience working with confidentiality is preferred.
Must have outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
Must comply with the Rincon’s Tribal Government Drug-Free Workplace,
including pre-employment, post-accident and injury, and random drug testing.
Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
Must have access to a strong and reliable internet connection.

Salary: Rate of Pay: $25/hr (Max. 20 hrs/wk)($2,000/mo. Stipend) combined with Academic
Credit, if law school allows. Open until filled.

Link to job announcement with instructions for applicants.

The Jim Rubin International Fellowship (2025)

February 7, 2025February 7, 2025Angie Sanchez

Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC

Job Description/Main Duties

The Fellowship Program empowers rising environmental lawyers from developing countries to tackle complex environmental problems. It reduces financial barriers, provides mentorship, and fosters leadership and creativity so fellows can conduct research that engages and informs the public and policymakers. The Fellowship is based in
Washington, D.C.

Fellows will have the opportunity to conduct legal research, analysis, writing, and editing on a focused project and explore a wide variety of ongoing and short-term research projects at ELI. Fellows will be fully integrated into ELI’s research and policy team, and as such will be expected to work on-site in ELI’s office.

Two fellowships will be available for 2025 for a duration of up to three months. Fellowships will consist of:

Mentorship from ELI’s senior staff;
Opportunities to participate in educational workshops, seminars, and conferences offered by ELI;
High-level networking opportunities; and
A desk at ELI’s office in Washington, D.C.

Eligibility and Selection

Completion of a legal degree (LLB, JD, SJD, or LLM equivalent) prior to start of fellowship.
Preference will be given to candidates from developing countries.
Ability to communicate in English in a professional environment.

Legally authorized to travel to and volunteer in the United States for the entire duration of the fellowship. For information on authorization requirements, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website (https://www.uscis.gov/). Please note that ELI is unable to sponsor visas for fellowship applicants.

Successful applicants will be environmental lawyers in the early stages of their career who show promise as leaders. They embody Jim Rubin’s dedication to environmental protection law and policy, community engagement, and access to justice. They will be committed to research excellence and possess the ability to bring clarity to complex issues.

Candidates should be:

Early in their career, preferably within five years of graduating with their legal degree.
Interested in building thought- and practical management skills.
Show promise and a commitment to excellence.
Possess exceptional research, writing, and interpersonal communication skills.
Have a strong desire to gain knowledge of the environmental field.
Focused, independent, reliable, and meticulous

Salary: Each Fellow is eligible for a one-time travel and accommodation stipend (up to $7,500).

Closing date: February 28, 2025

Instructions for applicants.

Webinar on ReIndigenizing the Law: Indigenous Legal Perspectives in the Pacific Northwest

February 7, 2025Singel

Save the date! The American Indian Law Journal and the Center for Indian Law & Policy at Seattle University School of Law will host a day-long webinar on “ReIndigenizing the Law: Indigenous Legal Perspectives in the Pacific Northwest” on March 1, 2025 at Seattle University School of Law. The flyer is below, and you can register here.

Term Law Clerks to U.S. District Judge Lauren King

February 7, 2025Angie Sanchez

United States District Court, Western District of Michigan

Law clerks work closely with the Judge on civil and criminal litigation filed in District Court.

Candidates must possess excellent research and writing skills. They must also be law
school graduates from an accredited law school; be organized and work well
independently; and be experienced with Word, Westlaw, Lexis, and related platforms.
Judge King’s selection process involves a timed legal research and writing assignment;
therefore, candidates must have access to Westlaw or Lexis. Candidates must also have
at least one year of federal clerkship experience or at least two years of litigation
experience prior to the position start date.

Judiciary Salary Plan (JSP) Grade 11 – 13, depending on experience, qualifications, and bar
membership.

Salary range: $83,104 to $153,982 annually, full-time.

Open until filled; however, priority will be given to applications submitted by March 3, 2025.

Judge King does not accept hard copy applications. Qualified applicants should submit the
following materials via OSCAR or via e-mail (Word or Acrobat .pdf format) to
kingapps@wawd.uscourts.gov:

A cover letter of up to three pages addressing the following: (1) your work
environment preferences (including but not limited to whether you prefer in person
or hybrid work); (2) how your background and/or experience makes you a good fit for
a law clerk position, which typically involves a large volume of work and timesensitive matters that may require work during nights and weekends; and
(3) anything else of note that you would like Judge King to consider.
A current resume
A minimum of three professional references
A writing sample that is five to ten pages in length; the writing sample ideally should be
written solely by the applicant; however, if it was edited by others, the applicant must
indicate in the cover letter the extent to which it has been edited by others.
A completed AO78, Application for Employment.* For this vacancy announcement (25-
WAW-10), you do not need to complete the optional background information –
questions 18, 19, and 20.

MORE INFO HERE.

Lauren van Schilfgaarde on Native Reproductive Self-Determination

February 7, 2025Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Lauren van Schilfgaarde has posted “Native Reproductive Self-Determination,” forthcoming in the UCLA Law Review, on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

Like the overall well-being of Indigenous peoples, Native reproductive health has been deeply impacted by the direct and collateral consequences of settler colonialism. Today, Natives experience some of the most dire reproductive health disparities. Unlike other health care systems, however, Native health care is sui generis. The federal government has treaty, trust, and statutory obligations to provide Native Americans with health care, most prominently operationalized in the Indian Health Service (IHS). Unfortunately, the perpetual underfunded status of IHS coupled with draconian policies has meant that Native reproductive health is dismally served. Moreover, reproductive health tends to be exceptionalized—treated as a distinct component of health care that is often underprioritized or even entirely cut. But even if the IHS budget was instantly enhanced and even if reproductive health care was instantly prioritized across health systems, Native reproductive health care would still lack its most essential ingredient: self-determination.

The term “self-determination” has grown significant national and international meaning, both in relation to Tribes and reproductive justice. Native reproductive self-determination, however, remains an undertheorized confluence. Indigenous reproductive health was only explicitly acknowledged by an international body in 2022, General Recommendation 39 issued by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) regarding Indigenous women and girls. General Recommendation 39 acknowledges both the collective rights of Indigenous peoples to exist as a self-determined people and the unique vulnerability of Indigenous women and girls. This framework offers an important and expansive conceptualization of the federal duties owed to Native reproductive self-determination and a path out of the paternalistic and harmful logics that have historically formed Native reproductive health care. Indigenous rights must be positioned within a historical context to inform not just the rights of Indigenous peoples to be recognized and to self-govern but also to stress the positive obligations that the nation-state owes toward Indigenous peoples. A historical context that informs the nation state’s positive obligations are themselves background to the realization of a self-determined collective—in this case, to ensure Native reproductive self-determination.