President Bush has nominated Marty Jackley, an attorney who has represented Indian defendants in federal court and who is admitted to practice in the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court, as the U.S. Attorney for the state of South Dakota.

Jackley is a partner at the law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Goodsell & Nelson. His practice areas include Indian law.

According to a preliminary search of federal court documents, Jackley represented at least four Indian defendants in cases against the federal government. If he is confirmed as U.S. Attorney, he will be on the other side in prosecuting Indians accused of crimes.

Jackley lost three of the Indian cases before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. But he won a case on behalf of an Indian juvenile who was going to be charged as an adult based on information the 8th Circuit said couldn't be considered.

The search also turned up a case in which Jackley represented a man who was found guilty of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota. The record before the 8th Circuit did not indicate whether any of the drugs made it to reservations. A more thorough search would provide additioanl information about the case.

Get the Story:
President nominates local lawyer for U.S. attorney (The Rapid City Journal 5/19)

Relevant Links:
Gunderson, Palmer, Goodsell & Nelson - http://www.gundersonpalmer.com

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