The Navajo Nation / Department of Justice

Pursuant to 2 N.N.C. §§ 1961-1965, the Navajo Nation Department of Justice provides legal services to the three governmental branches of the Navajo Nation Government, including its chapters and entities, in matters in which the Navajo Nation government has an interest. The Attorney General also initiates and defends all litigation against the Navajo Nation and supervises all outside attorney contractors who assist the Nation with various cases.

*****The Department of Justice does not represent individual tribal members except where sued in their capacity as Navajo Nation officials****

 

           Major Accomplishments

• Settlement of Navajo and Hopi Land Claims for Executive Order Lands
• Successful Negotiation of Major Energy Leases and Agreements
• Settlement of Navajo Nation v. Peabody Holding Co., Inc.
• Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project
• Successful Implementation of Federal Agency Five-Year Plans for Cleanup of Uranium Contaminated Sites located in Navajo Indian Country
• Remedy Selection for Cleanup of Northeast Church Rock Abandoned Uranium Mine Site that Utilizes Most Stringent Cleanup Standard in the Country
• Successful Development of Gaming on the Navajo Nation
• Kerr McGee v. Navajo Nation
• Partition Judgement—1934 Reservation Litigation
• New Mexico San Juan River Water Rights Settlement Agreement
• Gila River III (reserved ground water rights)
• Gila River V (permanent homeland doctrine)
• Navajo Nation v. Russell Means
• Navajo San Juan Southern Paiute Treaty

          Significant Navajo Nation Proceedings

• OHA cases involving Chris Deschene and Russell Begaye  2014 Navajo Nation Elections.
• EEOC v. Peabody Western Coal Company (Navajo Preference)
• Navajo Nation v. US (Historical Trust Mismanagement)
• El Paso Natural Gas Co and Navajo Nation v. United States, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia concerning the Tuba City area uranium contaminated sites
• Tronox v. Kerr-McGee and Anadarko, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York relating to all former Kerr-McGee uranium contaminated sites in Navajo Indian Country
• Navajo Nation v. Department of the Interior, et al. (proprietary rights in Canyon de Chelly)
• Utah San Juan River Water Rights Settlement
• Little Colorado River Adjudication
• Colorado River Litigation (mainstem claim)