In an interview broadcast throughout New Mexico this morning, Professor Barbara Creel discussed an important June 13 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court with Tom Trowbridge of Dateline New Mexico.

In United States v. Bryant, the Court held that American Indians are not protected by the Sixth Amendment right to counsel when prosecutors rely on those defendants' prior "uncounseled" tribal court convictions to charge, convict, and imprison them as federal habitual domestic violence offenders.

Together with Professor John LaVelle, Professor Creel authored an amicus brief in the case, on behalf of the Tribal Defenders Network, urging the high court to strike down such federal prosecutions as violating Indian people's constitutional and civil rights.

Previous Media Coverage

Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision on the case, Creel and LaVelle’s views were published in the media.

LaVelle wrote a guest column on the Bryant case for the Albuquerque Journal that was published on February 10. See "Uncounseled" convictions a threat to Indians.”

On May 6, 2016, KOB reporter Erica Zucco interviewed Creel about the issues in United States v. Bryant. See the interview here: http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/federal-case-united-state-v-bryant-native-americans-law-legal-system/4129946/?cat=516#.V3GTuKKgVEq. 

On May 18, 2016, LaVelle explained the issues surrounding the case in an interview with Tom Trowbridge of Dateline New Mexico. Read more here: http://lawschool.unm.edu/news/2016/05/dateline-new-mexico-interviews-professor-lavelle-about-supreme-court-case.php

On June 26, 2016, the Albuquerque Journal published an op-ed written by Creel and LaVelle on the Supreme Court's recent decision in United States v. Bryant. Read more here: http://lawschool.unm.edu/news/2016/06/faculty-op-ed-says-high-court-denies-rights-of-natives.php