I endorse Ben Lammons as the next district attorney for the Sixth Judicial District. I’ve been an attorney in Indian Country for 33 years and worked with Ben on numerous issues at Southern Ute. He is an attorney of great integrity, unmatched skill and would be a fabulous DA.
I want to address one issue about Ben’s resume that is misunderstood and mischaracterized by Christian Champagne and his supporters. Ben works as the prosecutor for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Some, including the current DA, characterize tribal courts as the “minor leagues” and Ben’s experience there as unworthy of consideration. This characterization is a gross falsehood.
Criminal prosecutions in tribal courts are just as complex as state court prosecutions. I personally spent months handling a tribal court criminal jury trial where the legal issues included such matters as the impact of forced testimonial immunity resulting from a defendant giving testimony to a United States Senate committee. (If you want to know how complex, try Googling “Kastigar vs. United States.”)
In addition, tribal court criminal jurisdiction depends on the analysis of the status of the land on which a crime occurs, the ethnic identity of both perpetrators and victims, and the precise nature of the crime – an analysis never required in state courts.
Having an understanding of these complex issues, as Ben does, is critical to the administration of justice throughout the 6th Judicial District. It is my understanding that the current DA, whose policies are embraced by Champagne, will not prosecute at least some criminal cases where the investigation is started by the Southern Ute Police Department, based largely on a misunderstanding by the DA of these complex jurisdictional issues. (A DUI being one most recent example. Remember that next time you’re out on the road.) When criminal cases are not prosecuted because a DA or candidate for DA is wrongly dismissive of the tribal courts, it does a disservice to all citizens of the 6th Judicial District.
Join me in voting for someone who understands these issues. Join me in voting for Ben Lammons.
Steven Boos
Ignacio
