Merri Lopez-Keifer, affiliate of the Center for Research on Native American Issues, is the executive director of UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Indigenous Law & Justice. She is eager to lead its efforts in promoting tribal sovereignty and advocating for Native Nations. She says joining the law school presented “a valuable opportunity to deepen institutional understanding of tribal sovereignty, to advance recognition of Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights to self-determination, and to promote sustained, respectful partnerships that strengthen tribal justice.” An enrolled member of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, Lopez-Keifer worked for five years at the California Attorney General’s Office, leading the Office of Native American Affairs and serving as the principal legal and policy advisor on tribal affairs to Attorneys General Xavier Becerra and Rob Bonta.
July 31, 2025