Native American Spirituality and Restorative Justice

The Honorable Robert Yazzie is a retired chief Justice of the Navajo Nation. He was the Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation from 1992 through 2003. He practiced law in the Navajo Nation for 16 years, and he was a district judge for eight years. He has a bachelor of arts degree from Oberlin College of Ohio and a juris doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He was formerly the Director of Diné Policy Institute of Diné College (Navajo Nation), developing policy using authentic Navajo thinking and applying the Fundamental Laws of the Dine to contemporary problems.

He is a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association. He is the author of articles and book chapters on many subjects, including 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 of Northern Arizona University and a visiting member of the faculty of the National Judicial College. He teaches Navajo law at the Navajo Technical 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.