The Attorney General is the Chief Legal Officer of the Navajo Nation and supervises all programs and units of the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. The Department of Justice has four separately funded programs: the Office of the Attorney General (and its units), Navajo Hopi Legal Services, the Office of the Prosecutor, and the Juvenile Justice Program. The Chief Prosecutor administers the latter two programs.
Mission
Pursuant to 2 N.N.C. §§ 1961-1965, the Office of the Attorney General, and its various units, provide 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*****
Former Attorneys General
James G. Abourezk |
1982-1983 |
Claudeen Bates-Arthur |
1983-1984 |
Michael P. Upshaw |
1987-1989 |
Herb Yazzie |
1989-1991 |
Donna M. Christensen |
1991-1992 |
Herb Yazzie |
1992-1998 |
Levon B. Henry |
1999-2002 |
Louis Denetsosie |
2003-2010 |
D. Harrision Tsosie |
2011-2015 |
Ethel Branch |
2015-2019 |
Former Deputy Attorneys General
Lary Aschenbenner |
1982-1983 |
Louis Denetsosie |
1984-1987 |
Eric N. Dahlstrom |
1987 |
Elouise Chicharello |
1991-1992 |
Patterson V. Joe |
1993 |
Herb Yazzie |
1995 |
Britt Clapham ll |
1999-2003 |
D. Harrison Tsosie |
2003-2010 |
Dana Bobroff |
2011-2015 |
Rodgerick Begay |
2015-2016 |