Samantha Kelty

About Samantha Kelty

Civil rights attorney litigating to eliminate obstacles to voting and to advance equitable education.

Experience

1. Senior Staff Attorney Managing Attorney, Dc Office

   Native American Rights Fund

   Jun 2020 — Present · DC, US

   At NARF, I litigate major victories for Native American voting rights, including securing ballot assistance, ballot receipt extension deadlines, on-reservation polling places, election day registration, compliance with the National Voting Rights Act, and fair redistricting plans. I currently work with tribes across the country to increase political power through redistricting. I represented amicus curiae before the United States Supreme Court to advocate for the use of ballot collection and equal access by Native American voters under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. I am a member of the Native American Voting Rights Coalition, a nationwide alliance of advocates, lawyers, academics, and tribal representatives that addresses Native American voting issues nationwide. In addition to voting rights, I work to promote equitable Indian education. I co-authored an Amici Curiae brief to the Ninth Circuit in a case of first impression regarding the legal obligations of the United States to educate K-12 tribal students. I also currently represent five tribes to compel fulfillment of a constitutional mandate to teach public school students the history and culture of the first peoples of Montana.

Education

• South Texas College of Law

  Juris Doctor (J.D.), Law

  2002 — 2005

• Louisiana State University

  B.A., English

  1997 — 2001

• The University of New Mexico School of Law

  American Indian/Native American Studies

  2004 — 2005