Kevin Washburn

Kevin Washburn
Name	Kevin Washburn
Birth date	1967
Birth place	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alma mater	Rice University, University of New Mexico School of Law, Harvard Law School
Occupation	Attorney, jurist, academic, policy official
Office	Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
Term	2009–2012
Spouse	Mary Kay

Kevin Washburn is an American attorney, jurist, academic, and former federal official known for his work on Native American law, tribal sovereignty, and federal Indian policy. He served as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the United States Department of the Interior and later as a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. His career spans litigation, tribal law practice, academia, and administrative leadership involving complex interactions among tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and federal agencies.

Early life and education

Washburn was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and raised in a family with ties to the Navajo Nation and Jemez Pueblo communities. He attended Stanford University for undergraduate studies before earning a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law and pursuing advanced legal study at Harvard Law School. During his education he engaged with clinics and programs connected to tribal courts, the Indian Health Service, and policy projects in collaboration with institutions such as the Department of Justice and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Legal career and tribal law work

Washburn began his legal career clerking for a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and later joined private practice and public service roles that focused on Native American legal issues. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico, prosecuting cases involving the Major Crimes Act and coordinating with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Washburn also worked with tribal governments as general counsel and advisor, representing tribes such as the Hopi Tribe, the Pueblo of Isleta, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in matters that included gaming compact negotiations under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, land-into-trust applications with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and cross-jurisdictional criminal matters with the National Congress of American Indians.

He became known for developing collaborative frameworks among tribes, state prosecutors, and federal agencies, engaging with institutions such as the United States Department of Transportation on infrastructure projects and the Environmental Protection Agency on reservation environmental compliance. His litigation portfolio included cases in the Tenth Circuit, the New Mexico Supreme Court, and before administrative bodies like the Federal Communications Commission when tribal sovereignty intersected with telecommunications and spectrum issues.

Academic and policy roles

Washburn transitioned into academia as a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law and later at the University of Iowa College of Law, teaching courses on tribal law, federal Indian policy, criminal procedure, and civil rights. He published scholarship in law reviews and edited volumes addressing topics such as inherent tribal sovereignty, the interplay of federal statutes like the Indian Child Welfare Act with tribal jurisdiction, and the role of tribal courts in criminal justice reform. During this period he collaborated with research centers like the Native American Rights Fund and the Center for Native American Youth and provided testimony before congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the United States House Committee on Natural Resources.

Washburn also served as a visiting professor and fellow at institutions such as Yale Law School and engaged with policy initiatives at the Brookings Institution and the American Bar Association focusing on tribal governance, public safety, and economic development through partnerships involving the Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration.

Tenure as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs

In his role at the United States Department of the Interior as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Washburn oversaw the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. He led initiatives to reform tribal justice systems, advance law enforcement cooperation among the Department of Justice, tribal police, and the Office of Tribal Justice, and to streamline land-into-trust procedures. Washburn implemented policy changes affecting gaming compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and supported efforts to increase tribal self-determination in managing education programs linked to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

His tenure involved high-profile consultations with tribal leaders from the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe as well as coordination with federal partners including the Department of Housing and Urban Development on housing initiatives and the Department of Education on tribal education programs. He also addressed trust reform and financial management issues involving the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians.

Judicial service

After leaving the Interior Department, Washburn was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, where he adjudicated a range of civil and criminal matters, including cases implicating tribal jurisdiction, federal Indian law, and cross-border resource disputes involving entities such as Pueblo of Santa Ana and the Tohono O'odham Nation. His opinions have been cited in subsequent decisions concerning the scope of federal statutes like the Major Crimes Act and doctrines related to tribal sovereign immunity, and he has presided over multi-district matters with participation from agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and private parties such as energy companies.

Awards, honors, and affiliations

Washburn has received awards from tribal organizations and national legal groups, including recognition by the Native American Law Students Association and the American Bar Association for contributions to tribal law. He has been affiliated with professional bodies such as the Federal Bar Association, the American Indian Law Section of the ABA, and advisory roles with the National Congress of American Indians and the Institute for Native American Development. His scholarship and public service have been honored by universities including the University of New Mexico and the University of Iowa with teaching and public service awards.

Category:Living people Category:United States Assistant Secretaries of the Interior Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico Category:Native American lawyers Category:1967 births