2017 Chair of the Oregon State Bar Indian Law Section.

Henkels Law regularly represents clients in the tribal courts in Oregon and elsewhere.  With in-house and outside experience in tribal courts and courts of appeals, we have worked in issues ranging from civil and criminal jurisdiction, natural resources code research, and drafting and enforcement of federal Indian law pertaining to Clean Water Act, cultural resources, Indian Civil Rights Act, Adoption and Safe Families Act, and other statutes.  We have represented Indians and non-Indians in tribal courts, state administrative proceedings, and federal court in a wide variety of matters, including the following among other examples: 

– Exhausting tribal court remedies in employment matter and co-representing client in federal court settlement process. 

--Defending non-tribal grandparent guardianship, and foster parent rights to due process in juvenile matters.

– Disenrollment matter including litigation in tribal administration and tribal court.  

– Casino prize before tribe and third party out of state commercial provider, aligning for litigation with large commercial litigation firm as co-counsel. 

– Defending tribal member in tribal court in employment and child welfare matter involving several expert witnesses.

– Representing tribal member client facingfelony charges for illegal use of medical marijuana.   

– Search and seizure matters involving tribal security and police, civil forfeiture.

– Represented several clients in dependency related issues through administrative, tribal court, and through tribal court of appeals.

– Civil rights cases regarding due process and free speech including federal case law interpreting the U.S. Constitution.