White House Finds Impediments to Native American Vote
At the end of March 2022, the White House released its Report on Native American Voting Rights. The Report found that Native Americans face “unnecessary and unacceptable impediments” to exercising their voting rights. According to the Report, several...
GAO Seeks Nominations for First Ever Tribal Advisory Council
On April 7, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced plans to form its first Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). GAO is calling for nominations to fill 15 positions. The TAC will advise GAO on vital and emerging issues affecting Tribes and Indigenous...
Supreme Court to Hear ICWA Challenge
On February 28, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in the Haaland v. Brackeen case. The Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of ICWA, its validity under the Indian Commerce...
President Biden Announces Supreme Court Nomination
On February 25, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the 116th Justice of the United States Supreme Court. If confirmed, Judge Jackson would take the seat of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer and become the court’s first Black female justice....
Congress Reauthorizes VAWA
On March 10, as a part of the FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA is the important and historic act that restored tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians for certain crimes including child violence, sexual...
Congress Passes Omnibus Funding for FY22
On March 10, Congress passed a $1.5 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Bill to fund the Federal government through FY 2022. The Bill increases funding for a number of important tribal programs and services. Overall, approximately $10 billion will be provided to fund...
White House Nominates IHS Director
On March 9, the Biden Administration announced the nomination of Roselyn Tso to be the Director of the Indian Health Services (IHS). She is a member of the Navajo Nation and has worked for IHS for over 32 years. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a...Native Law Group Partner Selected to Super Lawyers Listing
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers has selected partner Thomasina Real Bird to its listing for 2020-2022. The designation means she is a top-rated attorney in Native American Law and has earned a high level of peer...