Pitt Law Sba

To wrap up today’s celebration, and to highlight Native tribes’ long fight for their land, there is a film called Public Trust. This film covers many of the same issues and topics as the Kantor article, posted earlier today.

https://www.patagonia.com/films/public-trust/

In reading the cases and articles, and watching this film, we hope that you all keep in mind the way that law and policy affects people, communities, and cultures in the most intimate way. Take a moment to reflect on your studies here at Pitt Law, and strive to make the connection between law, policy, and humanity.

~SBA’s Diversity Committee

Public Trust Film - Patagonia Our public lands and waters are under threat. Public Trust is a film about the fight for America’s public lands. Join us in the fight to protect them.

Continuing with our Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration, here is a background of some of the abuse that the Native Americans faced at the hands of the United States government in the nineteenth century.

https://www.history.com/.amp/topics/native-american-history/trail-of-tears

In addition, there are two articles, linked below, that explore the long history between the Native Americans and the U.S. government.

The first, We Live on Their Land: Implications of Long-Ago Takings for Native American Indian Property by Anthony Pierson Xavier Bothwell, outlines the flaws in the U.S. government’s process and arguments during the takings of Native lands.

https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=annlsurvey

The second, Ethnic Cleansing and America’s Creation of National Parks by Issac Kantor, highlights the marred history of our National Parks and public lands.

https://scholarship.law.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1267&context=plrlr

scholarship.law.umt.edu

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day!

In celebration of today, SBA will be sharing informational posts concerning the takeover of Native lands in America.

To begin, there are two “landmark” cases from the nineteenth century that outlined the Supreme Court’s precedent concerning Native Americans’ rights and authority with respect to their own land.

Cherokee Nations v. Georgia, 30 U.S. 1 (1831)
~ The Court determined that the framers of the Constitution did not really consider the Indian Tribes as foreign nations but more as "domestic dependent nation[s]" and consequently the Cherokee Nation lacked the standing to sue as a "foreign" nation.

Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832)
~ The Supreme Court noted that the "treaties and laws of the United States contemplate the Indian territory as completely separated from that of the states; and provide that all in*******se with them shall be carried on exclusively by the government of the union... The Cherokee nation, then, is a distinct community occupying its own territory in which the laws of Georgia can have no force. The whole in*******se between the United States and this nation, is, by our constitution and laws, vested in the government of the United States."

A more recent case arising from Oklahoma reflects modern judicial thought concerning the autonomy of Native tribes and their independence from the state.

McGirt v. Oklahoma, 591 U.S. ___ (2020).
~ The Supreme Court's decision directly impacts Native American tribal citizens that are currently convicted under state law for crimes committed on the former reservation lands, as well as for any future descendants that may be arrested for similar crimes covered by the Major Crimes Acts, as their prosecution would become a matter of the federal courts and not the state.

Common law, especially the dicta of the Supreme Court, has been immensely influential in the attitude towards Native American land rights. Where this country began with Native rights is hopefully not where we will go in the future. As Justice Gorsuch noted in McGirt, promises were made to Native tribes and those promises should be upheld.

-SBA Diversity Committee

Please see the statement and resources posted on behalf of the Student Bar Association. This is not an exhaustive list of resources. Please use the comments to share additional resources.

Good morning!

This is just a reminder that elections for SBA's Executive Board are TODAY from 9am-5pm. All currently enrolled students in the law school may vote, even those graduating this year.

Please go to my.pitt.edu to cast your votes. The election will show up on the left hand side of the screen in the green box that has "Emergency Contact Information." Please make sure to click all the way through until there is a check mark in the box next to the position you voted for! Your vote will not be casted if you do not make sure you have finished with all of the prompts!

Please see the flyer below to get to know one of the candidates running for President of SBA!

Please see the flyer below to get to know one of the slates running for SBA!

Good evening, all!

Tomorrow at 12pm Jesse, Tara, Alex, and Noel will be taking questions about their slate and intentions in running for SBA. Please tune in using the information below:

Lamp, Jesse D is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: SBA Board Campaign Q&A - Jesse, Tara, Alex and Noel

Time: Apr 2, 2020 11:59 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Great news!! Your voices have been heard! The Provost is allowing the law school to propose their own grading policy INDEPENDENT of that of the University at large. That being said, please continue to use our forum on TWEN to post your reasoning on why you believe in the grading policy that you are backing. We also have a poll on the "Customized Polling" page so that we can better quantify student support for the policies. PLEASE PARTICIPATE! Your voices and your concerns matter! If you have questions, please reach out to any of the members of SBA.

Hello all! Please check your emails and see the SBA TWEN page for a forum regarding the grading policy for this semester. If you are part of the Class of 2020, please also see the forum regarding alternatives to the original commencement ceremony. SBA really appreciates your input as we try to navigate this new virtual set up. Thank you!

Good evening, all. I wanted to pass along a message from Dean Amy. I let her know that many 3Ls did not receive the email from the Chancellor about Commencement being postponed. Dean Amy herself did not receive the email and found out when it was forwarded to her. She would like to extend her sincerest apologies and let you all know that she is working to ensure law students are better informed moving forward. Please feel free to continue to email me ([email protected]) if you have questions or concerns. I appreciate those of you who have reached out thus far!