Dorothy Alther, a Senior Staff Attorney in the Escondido Office, is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She represents tribes, tribal entities, and individuals on the full range of Indian law issues including housing, health, tribal government and sovereignty, employment, land, environmental, elder, trust resources, administrative, business, fee-to-trust, cultural resources protection, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), non-profit corporations, and litigation matters. Ms. Alther served as Directing Attorney of the Bishop office from 1994 - 2003 and continues to represent tribes in the Eastern Sierra region. Northeastern University School of Law (J.D. 1985); University of South Dakota (B.A. 1978).

Phone: (760) 746-8941, ext. 122

Michele Fahley, a Staff Attorney in the Escondido Office, joined CILS in 2004. She has a joint degree in law and American Indian Studies from UCLA, and has worked with the UCLA American Indian Studies Center, the UCLA Tribal Legal Development Clinic, and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. Since joining CILS Ms. Fahley's work has focused on ICWA, updating CILS' ICWA Benchguide for California Judges, tribal court development, and gaming and economic development. UCLA (J.D. 2003; M.A. 2004); University of Washington, Seattle (B.A. 1998).

Phone: (760) 746-8941, ext. 121

Maureen Geary, Directing Attorney of the Santa Rosa office, has expertise in environmental law, TANF, business, education, land, health, administrative law, ICWA, and Indian probate matters. Ms. Geary has more than sixteen years of legal experience working with Indian people, ten years of which have been with California Indian tribes and individuals. Lewis and Clark College, Northwestern School of Law (J.D. 1988); University of Arizona (M.A. 1985); University of North Dakota (B.A. 1983).

Phone: (707) 573-8016

Kate Griffin, Interim Executive Director, joined CILS in 2000 after completing a Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Griffin’s dissertation addressed the relationship between literature, law and issues of social and political justice for American Indians and African Americans. She designed and taught seminars in American studies, focusing on the analysis of social issues that impact Native populations. Additionally, she presented several papers at academic conferences that addressed political, legal and social issues affecting Black and Indian people. Throughout her tenure at CILS, Dr. Griffin enjoyed a variety of responsibilities that positioned her well for a leadership role. Her academic training along with her commitment to social justice for Indian people provided her with the breadth and depth of knowledge, expertise and passion to successfully lead CILS in its time of transition. University of Minnesota (Ph.D. 2000); Wesleyan University (B.A. 1994)

Phone: (510) 835-8045, ext. 315

Samuel Hough (Serrano), joined CILS in 2004 and has been the Directing Attorney of the Eureka office since 2005. His current work focuses on environmental law, cultural resource protection, natural resources and land tenure, tribal governance, representing Tribes in Indian Child Welfare Act cases, and estate planning. Mr. Hough provides trainings on the Indian Child Welfare Act, Domestic Violence in Indian Country, and Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction in a Public Law 280 State for Tribal, County, and State officials. Mr. Hough graduated from Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and earned his J.D. and LL.M. from the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona.

Phone: (707) 443-8397, ext. 111

Mark Radoff, Directing Attorney of CILS' Escondido Office, has nearly twenty years legal experience including a background in private practice, legal services, and the public defender's office. His expertise includes juvenile dependency and delinquency matters, housing, litigation, probate and estate planning, business, environmental, and civil rights issues. Mr. Radoff's practice includes a full range of tribal representation, including ICWA, gaming and business issues. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D. 1985); University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. 1981).

Phone: (760) 746-8941, ext. 102

Delia Sharpe, an Advocate in CILS' Bishop Office, is a recent graduate of the New College of California School of Law. Ms. Sharpe interned at CILS for more than a year during law school, working out of the Oakland office. During law school, she also interned at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and as an undergraduate, she worked at the Center for Indian Community Development in Arcata. In addition to her Indian Law caseload, Ms. Sharpe staffs the Eastern Sierra Legal Assistance Program and the Inyo-Mono Senior Legal Project. New College of California School of Law (J.D. 2005); Humboldt State University (B.A. 2001).

Phone: (760) 873-3581

Theresa Witherspoon, a Staff Attorney in the Oakland Office, joined CILS in 2003 and represents tribes and individual Indians on matters involving ICWA, trust land, probate, guardianships, and custodianships. Ms. Witherspoon also leads CILS' Earned Income Tax Credit and Financial Management projects. During law school, Ms. Witherspoon clerked in a variety of public interest organizations, advocating for the rights of low-income people in the areas of workers' rights, disability access, and criminal defense. Northeastern University School of Law (J.D. 2003); University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A. 1995).

Phone: (510) 835-0284, ext. 308

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