ABA Votes to Expand Membership Eligibility to Tribal Court Practitioners

On August 11, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates unanimously voted to amend the ABA Constitution to allow tribal court practitioners to become full members of the ABA.  In the past, only persons licensed in a state, federal or territorial jurisdiction within the United States could join the ABA as a full member.  The ABA's policy did not extend to persons solely licensed through a tribal court of a federally recognized tribe.

The National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) issued a press release commending the decision of the ABA, stating that the decision will "put tribal court bar admissions on equal footing with the bars of states, territories and possessions of the United States."

Coverage is also available here from Turtle Talk, the blog of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University College of Law.  Turtle Talk also provides a link to the ABA Section Report in support of the amendment, available here.