Conference to explore future of federal Indian law

LAWRENCE – American Indian law scholars and advocates will gather at the University of Kansas this week to discuss the “U.S. Supreme Court and the Future of Federal Indian Law” during the 23rd annual Tribal Law & Government Conference.

The conference will run from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday, March 8, in 104 Green Hall. Preview the schedule on the conference website.

“Given the recent changes to the Supreme Court with the additions of Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, now is a critical time to consider how such changes potentially impact Indian country,” said Elizabeth Kronk Warner, professor of law and director of KU Law’s Tribal Law & Government Center. “This urgency is only amplified by the fact that the Supreme Court currently has several cases pending before it this term implicating tribes and Indian law.”

Ian Gershengorn will deliver the keynote address. Gershengorn is a partner at Jenner & Block in Washington, D.C., and one of the nation’s premier Supreme Court and appellate advocates. Before joining Jenner & Block law firm in 2017, he served in the Office of the Solicitor General at the Department of Justice. 

Other presenters:

• Bethany Berger, Wallace Stevens Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
• Ethan Jones, lead attorney, Yakama Nation Office of Legal Counsel 
• Monte Mills, associate professor and co-director, Margery Hunter Brown Indian Law Clinic, University of Montana School of Law
• Colette Routel, director, Indian Law Program and professor of law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
• Joel Williams, staff attorney, Native American Rights Fund

Gershengorn’s address will be followed by three panel discussions exploring taxation in Indian country, the future of Indian reservations following Carpenter v. Murphy and the scope of tribal treaty rights following Herrera v. Wyoming.

“We are excited to have many individuals working closely with these cases and the Supreme Court present at this conference,” Kronk Warner said. “It is a ‘must-see’ event for anyone interested the future of Indian law.”

6.5 hours of continuing legal education credit, including one hour of ethics, are approved in Kansas and Missouri.

The event is open to the public, but the registration deadline has passed. Walk-in registrations may be accommodated by contacting Rebecca Clayton at rclayton@ku.edu.