"From my perspective, the U.S. Supreme Court has been busy rewriting American Indian law for at least the past three decades. The court has ignored judicial history and political decisions made by Congress or presidential administrations and instead invented new policies defining the nature of tribal governmental powers.

Perhaps that change could begin with a new appointment. But most of the names being considered have little experience in Indian law (one reason why it's so important for Washington's bar exam to now include questions about Indian law).

I can't imagine that Bush would decide it's time for an American Indian to join the Supreme Court. But he should at least consider the idea. No group of Americans has as much at stake: The court has its hand in everything from treaty rights to jurisdictional disputes involving domestic violence on reservations."

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: High court could use an Indian voice (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 7/10)

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