Native American LAW CENTER
Courses
Native American Law
American Indian Law (Law A565)
History, from 1789, of vacillating federal laws and policies towards Indians. Current federal law and policy. Judicial trends in Indian cases. The federal trust responsibility toward Indian tribes; tribal powers of self government. Tribal courts. Federal supremacy (preemption) over state law in Indian country. Tribal/state/federal judicial and legislative jurisdiction in Indian country. Criminal and civil jurisdiction. Indian religious freedom. Indian water rights. Special hunting and fishing rights. Comparisons with Canadian Indian law and policy
The Spring 2005 Indian Law Seminar will focus on Native American Natural Resource Law.
Tribal Court Criminal Defense Clinic (Law E529) [see also the Clinic website]
This course offers the student clinical training in substantive areas of law implicated in representation of Native Americans defendants in tribal court criminal proceedings. Open to third-year students in the J.D. program. Spring, winter and fall quarters, four credits per quarter. Enrollment limited to eight students. Recommended courses: A565 American Indian Law, B503 Evidence, B515 Criminal Procedure, and B520 Trial Advocacy.
Independent Research (Law 600)
Students can register for independent study as a way to work with the center director or other faculty on Indian law topics of special interest.
Courses with Native American Law Component
Environmental Law: Pollution Control (Law A527)
This is a survey of environmental issues developed in the context of pollution control. Emphasis is upon procedural and administrative issues common to pollution control regulation. Coverage includes air, water, and pesticides law and policy.
Environmental Law Litigation and Practice (Law E593)
This course will provide a survey of environmental litigation and practice issues in the context of various environmental issues. Practice subjects that may be included are investigation, information-gathering (Freedom of Information Act), formal discovery, case selection, document control and presentation in complex litigation, representation of group clients, professional responsibility issues, working with scientists and presenting scientific evidence, trial techniques before hearing boards and complex cases. Co- or Pre-requisite course is A527 Environmental Law: Pollution Control.
Environmental Law Clinic (Law E594)
Clinical training in environmental law under the supervision of a member of the law school faculty. Students will receive instruction in applicable environmental law and procedure, skills training and professional responsibility concerns. In addition, students will participate in a carefully supervised practice experience representing clients in cases involving environmental issues. Students will interview clients and witnesses, consult with professionals from other disciplines, gather evidence informally and through legal discovery, negotiate on behalf of clients, counsel clients, draft legal documents, and conduct hearings and trials. Experience will include drafting and execution of FOIA and FACA requests, examination of discharge monitoring reports and the Toxic Release Inventory, preparation and interpretation of GIS and other scientific documents. White papers will also be prepared. Co- or Pre-requisite courses are A527 Environmental Law: Pollution Control and E593 Environmental Litigation and Practice. Recommended courses include Administrative Law, Trial Advocacy, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility.) Law students must be Rule 9 qualified. Offered on a credit/no credit basis. Enrollment is limited to 10-12 students. Enrollment priorities for clinics apply.
