L&C Law School ACLU

Events

Access to Justice for Native Americans: Criminal Law in Indian Country Speaker Series, Presented by the L&C Law School ACLU Student Group and NALSA

Date: February 7 2011, 12:00pm Location: Classroom 4

Feb. 7th – Prosecuting Crimes in Indian Country: Assistant U.S. Attorneys Billy J. Williams and Craig Gabriel will speak about their experiences as AUSAs prosecuting crimes of violence in Indian Country and their roles of serving as federal prosecutors and tribal liaisons. Included in the discussion will be a description of the jurisdictional complexities of criminal law in Indian Country and the tensions that exist between the Tribes, Federal Government, and States.     
   
Billly J. Williams: Since October 2000, Bill Williams has been with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in Portland, Oregon. He currently serves as Chief of the Criminal Division. He oversees the Criminal Division’s lawyers and support staff in the Portland, Eugene, and Medford offices. Additionally, he serves as one of three Tribal Liaisons to the nine federally recognized Indian Tribes in Oregon.            Between 2000 and 2010, he had primary responsibility for prosecution of violent crimes in Indian Country within the District of Oregon. Between 1989 and 2000, he served as a Deputy District Attorney and a Sr. Deputy District Attorney in Multnomah County, Portland, Oregon, where he prosecuted major crimes of violence including aggravated murder, adult and child sex offenses, domestic violence, narcotics, juvenile offenses, and officer-involved shootings. Bill has served as an instructor for state, county, federal, and tribal law enforcement personnel, medical staff, victim/witness advocates, and Native American communities concerning federal and state investigations relating to prosecution of crimes of violence.     Bill was born in Washington, and has lived in Idaho, Alaska, California. He has lived in in Oregon since 1983. He is a graduate of Washington State University (Criminal Justice) and Willamette University College of Law.       

Craig Gabriel: Last four years in U.S. Attorney’s Office (2007 – 2011), prosecuting white-collar crime cases and, more recently, violent crimes in Indian Country.  Prior to coming to the U.S. Attorney’s office, spent 6 years in private practice here in Portland, specializing in criminal defense at Ransom Blackman LLP and commercial litigation at Davis Wright Tremaine.   Education: Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. (2001) Magna Cum Laude, American Criminal Law Review; Columbia University, Master of International Affairs (1995) Bachelor of Science (1994)