Robert Yazzie

Robert Yazzie is Chief Justice Emeritus of the Navajo Nation, having served in that capacity from 1992 through 2003. He practiced law in the Navajo Nation for sixteen years, was a district judge for eight years, and is a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association. Mr. Yazzie has a B.A. from Oberlin College of Ohio and a J.D from the University Of New Mexico School Of Law. Currently, he is the Director of Diné Policy Institute of Diné College (Navajo Nation), developing policy using authentic Navajo thinking. His literary contributions include articles and book chapters on subjects such as Navajo peacemaking, traditional Indian law, and international human rights law. He is a visiting professor at the University Of New Mexico School Of Law, an adjunct professor of the Department of Criminal Justice at Northern Arizona University, and a visiting member of the faculty of the National Judicial College. Chief Justice Yazzie continues a career devoted to education in formal participation in faculties, lectures and discussions of traditional Indigenous law at various venues throughout the world. He has a global audience and he has frequently visited foreign lands to share his wisdom about traditional Indigenous justice and governance.