Judy M. Dworkin leads the firm’s Indian Law and Tribal Relations practice group. She offers broad experience in Indian law, with a major emphasis on assisting Indian tribes in achieving their economic development objectives.

Education

  • Arizona State University, J.D., cum laude (1986): Articles Editor, Arizona State Law Journal (1985 – 1986)
  • Clark University, Ph.D. (1978)
  • Clark University, A.M. (1975)

Bar & Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court (2009)
  • Bar of the Navajo Nation (1995)
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (1986)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1986)
  • Arizona (1986)
  • Southwest Intertribal Court of Appeals
  • Courts of the Hualapai and Hopi Tribes and the Tohono O’odham Nation

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers® The Best Lawyers in America®: Water Law (2011 – 2025); Native American Law (2009 – present)
  • Super Lawyers: Native American Law (2014 – 2025)
  • Chambers and Partners: Native American Law – Arizona (Band 1), Chambers USA (2018 – 2024)
  • Native American Bar Association of Arizona (NABA-AZ) Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) | Award Video
  • AzBusiness Magazine, AzBusiness Leaders: Native American Law (2019, 2021); Environmental Law (2015, 2020)
  • Foundation for Justice Award, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (2019) Award Article 
  • Finalist, ATHENA Businesswoman of the Year Award, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (2017) | Award Video
  • AzBusiness Magazine, Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona (2013 – 2015)
  • AzBusiness Magazine, 50 Most Influential Women in Business (2013)
  • Arizona State University College of Law Award for Outstanding Alumna for Class of 1986 (2011)
  • Arizona State University, President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness (2009) – in recognition of the Arizona Native Vote – Election Protection Project
  • AV-Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell® 
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation 

Professional & Industry Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Arizona
  • Presiding Appellate Justice, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council Court (2019 – 2025) (Appellate Justice 2015 – 2019)
  • Solicitor, Hualapai Judiciary, Hualapai Indian Tribe
  • Judge Pro Tem, Tribal Court of the Tohono O’odham Nation (1995 – 1999)
  • Law Clerk to Judge William C. Canby, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1986 – 1987)

Community Leadership

  • Heard Museum: Board of Trustees (2017 – 2025)
  • DNA People’s Legal Services:Board of Directors (2011 – 2025)
  • Arizona State University: Adjunct Professor (1986 – 2025)
  • Arizona State University Advisory Committee, Indian Legal Program (2006 – 2025)
  • Arizona Native American Economic Coalition: Board Member (1995 – 1997) Conference Chair, Annual Tribal Economic Summit (1996)
  • University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources: Assistant Professor (1978 – 1983)

Language Fluency

  • French