Confirmation Hearing Begins on Kevin Washburn

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – The US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a confirmation on President Barack Obama's nomination of Kevin K. Washburn, Chickasaw, to be Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.

Kevin K. Washburn - Chickasaw, Faces Senators Friday

After the hearing, it is possible the Committee on Indian Affairs may vote on whether or not to forward Mr. Washburn's name on to the full United States Senate. Such a vote may come as early as next week.

It is not known if his name is advanced to the Senate, if it will vote on the nomination prior to the presidential election on November 6.

Mr. Washburn is dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law, a position he has held since June 2009.

Prior to becoming dean at the University of New Mexico's School of Law, Mr. Washburn served as the Rosenstiel Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law from 2008 to 2009 and as an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School from 2002 to 2008.

From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Washburn was the Oneida Indian Nation Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School. Previously, he served as General Counsel for the National Indian Gaming Commission from 2000 to 2002, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Washburn was a trial attorney in the Indian Resources Section of the US Department of Justice from 1994 to 1997.

He earned a Bachelor's of Arts from the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School.

The hearing will be webcast live on Friday afternoon.

WHEN:
Friday, September 14

TIME:
2:30 pm edt

WHERE:
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628

posted September 13, 2012 7:40 am edt