Tex Hall: Former DOI lawyer bad choice for court

Opinion
Tex Hall: Former DOI lawyer bad choice for court
Monday, March 8, 2004

"President Bush has nominated William G. Myers for a lifetime appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears public lands cases from the nine Western states that contain the majority of our nation's public land. For Native Americans, Myers is the worst possible choice.

The U.S. government, as steward for millions of acres of Western lands, has accepted responsibility for maintaining and protecting religious sites of significance to Native Americans. This responsibility is clearly recognized not only by treaty and custom but also in laws such as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

Unfortunately, the nominee, while serving two years in the Bush administration as solicitor of the Department of the Interior, trampled on law, religion and dignity. In his official capacity he orchestrated a rollback of protections for sacred native sites on public lands, although such places have been central to the free exercise of religion for many American Indians for centuries."

Get the Story:
Tex G. Hall: An assault on sacred lands, tribes (The Billings Gazette 3/7)

Relevant Documents:
Environmental/Tribal Coalition Letter | NCAI Resolution | Environmental Group's Letter | Holland & Hart Biography

Indianz.Com Profile:
Industry insider named to Interior (March 30, 2001)

From the Archive:
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)