Jason Searle’s goal is to be an asset to tribes in nation-building, self-determination, and tackling Native invisibility. He seeks to assert and defend tribal sovereignty and treaty-rights and increase tribal jurisdictional independence from states and the federal government. To that end, his past work and studies have centered on Federal Indian Law, tribal jurisdiction, Indian treaty rights, Water Law, natural and cultural resources, Environmental Law, and Administrative Law.
At NARF, Jason is working to protect traditional knowledge, traditional cultural resources, and genetic resources through both international and U.S. law. With his efforts on issues like the Bears Ears National Monument, he is helping tribes defend their traditional lands—and the vital natural and cultural resources therein—from the harms of extractive industries, vandalism, and looting. Jason aims to bring public attention to unaddressed historical human rights injustices by supporting efforts to foster boarding school healing. Jason also assists in litigation defending tribal jurisdictional independence.
Prior to joining the NARF team, Jason Searle was a senior attorney at the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. During law school, Jason clerked at NARF’s Alaska Office and at the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Court. In his free time, Jason enjoys mountain biking and spending time with his dog, Remy.
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
- Dean’s Scholarship
- Dean’s Public Service Fellowship
- Pro Bono Pledge Award
- Brigham Young University, B.S. Sociology, magna cum laude
- National Merit Scholarship
- Dean’s List
Admissions to Practice
- Navajo Nation
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Colorado
- New Mexico
Publications
- Jason Searle, Exploring Alternatives to the “Consultation or Consent” Paradigm, 6 MJEAL 485 (2017)
- Jason Searle, Traditional Economics and the Fiduciary Illusion: A Socio-Legal Understanding of Corporate Governance, 29 BYU Prelaw Review 67 (2015)
- Jason Searle, BYU Should Bring LGBT Students Out of Shadow, Salt Lake Tribune, Mar. 2015
- Jason Searle, Giving Every Kid a Fair Shot, Post Register, May 2014
Download high resolution headshot of Jason Searle here.
