Native American Law
Native American law is a highly specialized area of law that demands a thorough understanding not only of the relevant state and federal laws, but also of the unique cultural issues at play and legal matters tribes encounter. Native American law deals with a body of mostly federalized law that can be complex, involves various government entities, and sometimes laws that even compete with or conflict with one another. At HILL | TURNER LLC, we have extensive experience assisting our Native American clients in a wide variety of legal issues. We represent both tribes and tribe members in many types of legal disputes, including:
- Intra-tribal disputes: Samuel Hill serves as the Tribal Judge for the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians; in this capacity, he resolves disputes between members of the Tribe.
- Land disputes and building permits
- Gaming laws
- General litigation issues, including jurisdiction issues
- Assistance with federal recognition: only tribes that are federally recognized are eligible for casino gambling. We provide assistance both with obtaining federal recognition and representation with respect to gaming issues.
Jurisdiction and Sovereign Immunity
An important issue facing many Native American tribes is what happens when a tribe has been sued in state or federal court over something that has occurred within a tribe (such as ex-communication of a member) or on tribal land (such as a slip and fall injury). Because tribes are technically their own government entities, they can often claim sovereign immunity.
Our attorneys have extensive experience handling a wide variety of Native American Law issues, and Mr. Hill, in addition to serving as a Tribal Judge for the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, teaches American Indian Law, and has been president of the Native American Bar Association. In addition, we have extensive experience in handling business matters, which allows us to assist our Native American clients with any business-related legal need that might arise.
Mr. Hill's unique position as Tribal Judge for the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians gives him unique insight and perspective into the legal issues that tribes face. Spending much of his time presiding over intra-tribal disputes assists him in representing other tribes in state and federal court. His deep understanding of the issues important to tribes and the inner-workings of tribal governments help him provide effective legal representation to tribes and tribe members that best addresses the tribe's needs.
If you are a member of a Native American tribe and are seeking legal assistance on behalf of yourself or your tribe, contact HILL | TURNER LLC today. Our attorneys are dedicated to providing personalized attention and representation to every client, and are extraordinarily qualified in this unique and complex area of law.
