First 13 Native attorneys before US Supreme Court gather

FIRST 13 NATIVE AMERICAN ATTORNEYS TO ARGUE BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COME TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME

“The First Thirteen” Event Unites Native American Legal Pioneers to Share Their Collective Experiences in a First-of-its-Kind Interview

WHAT: Native American leaders who paved the path of Federal Indian Law before the U.S. Supreme Court will participate in an interview-style symposium, “The First Thirteen: Personal Reflections of the Argument.” The event will feature the first 13 Native attorneys who argued Federal Indian Law cases before the U.S. Supreme Court to discuss their experiences – from preparations to the aftermath of their hearings.

WHO: The American Indian Law Center, Law & Indigenous Peoples Program at the University of New Mexico School of Law, Indian Legal Programs at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the New Mexico Indian Bar Association will sponsor the event.

Key participants include:

· Rodney B. Lewis – (Gila River Indian Community) argued Central Machinery v. Arizona State Tax Commission in 1980.

· Raymond Cross – (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation) argued Three Affiliated Tribes v. Wold Engineering

· Arlinda F. Locklear – (Lumbee Indian Tribe) argued Solem v. Bartlett and County of Oneida v. Oneida Indian Nation

· Jeanne S. Whiteing – (Blackfeet Nation) argued Blackfeet Tribe v. Montana

· Terry L. Pechota – (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) argued U.S. v. Dion

· Marilyn B. Miles – (Kickapoo Ancestry) argued Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protection Association

· Dale T. White – (Mohawk) argued California v. U.S.

· Susan M. Williams – (Sioux) argued Wyoming v. U.S.

· G. William Rice – (Keetoowah Cherokee) argued Oklahoma Tax Commission v. Sac and Fox Nation

· Martin E. Seneca, Jr. – (Seneca Nation) argued Hagen v. Utah

· Melody L. McCoy – (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) argued Strate v. A-1 Contractors

· Heather R. Kendall-Miller – (Athabascan) argued Alaska v. Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government

· S. James Anaya – (Purepecha and Chiricahua Apache ancestry) argued Nevada v. Hicks

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 2012

· 8:00 am – Welcome

· 8:30 am – Introduction of the First Thirteen and Symposium overview

· 10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Panel discussions

WHERE: University of New Mexico School of Law

1117 Stanford Dr. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87131

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephine Poston

(505) 379-6172

stephposton@msn.com