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Friday, April 16, 2010

Non Indian Attorneys Feel No Fallout for Bad Advice

First let me start out by saying I still won't comment in any detail about my wrongful termination suit against the tribe. I will however, direct some of my anger at the non Indian attorneys representing the tribe (Michell Hicks really).
My attorney, Robert Saunooke, is a tribal member. If he gives bad advice or violates a tribal law, he can be tried in tribal court. He's dealing with the same crap that I am, repercussions from elected officials who just don't like him, and these repercussions often involve violations of civil rights.
The lead attorneys representing the tribe, Annette Tarnawski and Carleton Metcalf of the Van Winkle law firm in Asheville live in an area where the governments are required by law to honor their civil rights. Neither of them fall under the tribe's criminal jurisdiction. In essence, neither of them can truly feel any consequences for poor advice to the tribe or violating tribal laws.
I don't want to lambaste non Indian attorneys who've done good work for the tribe and genuinely care about the well being of the tribe, and there are some, but this seems to be the same song and dance for tribal members. When they seek justice, the tribe brings outsiders in to shoot them down. Those outsiders have no stake in the situation. If they set off a bomb, they're at a safe enough distance to avoid the fallout. It's the tribal members who suffer the consequences while corrupt leaders hide in bunkers.
To my fellow tribal members, if the tribe succeeds in this case, then that means every law, not just the free press act, is worthless. Laws passed to protect you, guidelines and restrictions, laws to honor your civil rights, will mean absolutely nothing. But the non Indian attorneys can live with the comfort that should they be denied what's public information, or someone fires them for stating a political opinion some politician doesn't like, they'll have recourse to seek justice. That remains a fleeting dream for tribal members.

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