ABOUT MAYA KANE
Maya Kane, Principal
Background: With a Master's degree in Environmental Science from Yale University and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon, Maya Kane brings a unique, multidisciplinary perspective to the practice of law. Maya's practice focuses on protecting public lands, promoting wildlife conservation, and securing governmental transparency regarding environmental policies and practices. Maya is currently litigating to enforce the Wilderness Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the Freedom of Information Act with respect to Federal agency practices throughout the United States. Maya also submits, tracks, appeals and manages requests under the Freedom of Information Act to ensure governmental transparency and responsiveness on behalf of national nonprofit organizations seeking information about agency environmental policies and practices. Maya also has six years of experience litigating voting rights cases in federal court on behalf of Native American tribes and tribal organizations. She has also served as general counsel to hospitals and health care entities on the Navajo Nation.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (2011), University of Oregon, School of Law (Graduated Top 5%, Order of the Coif)
M.S., Environmental Science (2007), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Dean's List, Graduate Research Fellowship)
Bachelor of Arts (2001), Oberlin College (Academic Dean's List)
Admitted to Practice: State Bar of Colorado; District Court of Colorado; United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
REPRESENTATIVE CASES AND DECISIONS
The Wilderness Society v. Department of Interior, et al. (filed 2020, pending)
Essin, William Robert et al v. Town Of Vail Town Council et al. (filed 2019, pending)
The Wilderness Society v. Department of Interior, et al. (filed 2019, pending)
WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project v. U.S. Forest Service, Case No. 1:19-cv-00208 (filed 2019, pending)
Wilderness Watch et al v. Ferebee et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-01449 (filed 2019, pending)
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., Case No. 18-40005 (10th Cir., July 16, 2019) (upholding District Court decisions on unconstitutional and intentional racial discrimination in redistricting plans and upholding Court-ordered remedial districting plans in San Juan County, Utah).
Grayeyes et al. v. Cox et al., Case No. 4:18-cv-00041 (D. Utah, August 9, 2018) (granting motion for preliminary injunction and requiring government officials to comply with statutory procedures regarding Navajo plaintiff’s eligibility to vote and run for elected office).
Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission et al., v. San Juan Cty. (February 2018) (positive settlement reached regarding plaintiffs' claims that county failed to provide effective language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act).
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 266 F. Supp. 3d 1341 (D. Utah July 14, 2017) (entering judgment for clients that remedial plans submitted by governmental entity violated Equal Protection Clause due to use of racial classification and intentional racial discrimination).
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 162 F. Supp. 3d 1162 (D. Utah 2016) (granting summary judgment for clients that governmental entity’s election districts violated Equal Protection Clause due to use of racial classification and intentional racial discrimination).
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 150 F. Supp. 3d 1253 (D. Utah 2015) (granting summary judgment for clients that governmental entity’s election districts violated one-person, one-vote mandate of Equal Protection clause).
PUBLICATIONS
Kane, M.L. and Yates, J. 2020 "It's Your Problem, Too: Gender bias and the legal profession." President's Message, Colorado Bar Association, Colorado Lawyer.
Cahn, M.L., M. Connor, O.J. Schmitz, T.R. Stephenson, J. Wehausen, and H.E. Johnson. 2011. Disease, population viability, and recovery of endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1753–1766.
Clifford, D.L., B.A. Schumaker, T.R. Stephenson, V.C. Bleich, M.L. Cahn, B.J. Gonzales, W.M. Boyce, and J.K. Mazet. 2009. Assessing disease risk at the wildlife–livestock interface: A study of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Biological Conservation 142: 2559-2568.
Background: With a Master's degree in Environmental Science from Yale University and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon, Maya Kane brings a unique, multidisciplinary perspective to the practice of law. Maya's practice focuses on protecting public lands, promoting wildlife conservation, and securing governmental transparency regarding environmental policies and practices. Maya is currently litigating to enforce the Wilderness Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the Freedom of Information Act with respect to Federal agency practices throughout the United States. Maya also submits, tracks, appeals and manages requests under the Freedom of Information Act to ensure governmental transparency and responsiveness on behalf of national nonprofit organizations seeking information about agency environmental policies and practices. Maya also has six years of experience litigating voting rights cases in federal court on behalf of Native American tribes and tribal organizations. She has also served as general counsel to hospitals and health care entities on the Navajo Nation.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (2011), University of Oregon, School of Law (Graduated Top 5%, Order of the Coif)
M.S., Environmental Science (2007), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Dean's List, Graduate Research Fellowship)
Bachelor of Arts (2001), Oberlin College (Academic Dean's List)
Admitted to Practice: State Bar of Colorado; District Court of Colorado; United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
REPRESENTATIVE CASES AND DECISIONS
The Wilderness Society v. Department of Interior, et al. (filed 2020, pending)
Essin, William Robert et al v. Town Of Vail Town Council et al. (filed 2019, pending)
The Wilderness Society v. Department of Interior, et al. (filed 2019, pending)
WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project v. U.S. Forest Service, Case No. 1:19-cv-00208 (filed 2019, pending)
Wilderness Watch et al v. Ferebee et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-01449 (filed 2019, pending)
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., Case No. 18-40005 (10th Cir., July 16, 2019) (upholding District Court decisions on unconstitutional and intentional racial discrimination in redistricting plans and upholding Court-ordered remedial districting plans in San Juan County, Utah).
Grayeyes et al. v. Cox et al., Case No. 4:18-cv-00041 (D. Utah, August 9, 2018) (granting motion for preliminary injunction and requiring government officials to comply with statutory procedures regarding Navajo plaintiff’s eligibility to vote and run for elected office).
Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission et al., v. San Juan Cty. (February 2018) (positive settlement reached regarding plaintiffs' claims that county failed to provide effective language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act).
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 266 F. Supp. 3d 1341 (D. Utah July 14, 2017) (entering judgment for clients that remedial plans submitted by governmental entity violated Equal Protection Clause due to use of racial classification and intentional racial discrimination).
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 162 F. Supp. 3d 1162 (D. Utah 2016) (granting summary judgment for clients that governmental entity’s election districts violated Equal Protection Clause due to use of racial classification and intentional racial discrimination).
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 150 F. Supp. 3d 1253 (D. Utah 2015) (granting summary judgment for clients that governmental entity’s election districts violated one-person, one-vote mandate of Equal Protection clause).
PUBLICATIONS
Kane, M.L. and Yates, J. 2020 "It's Your Problem, Too: Gender bias and the legal profession." President's Message, Colorado Bar Association, Colorado Lawyer.
Cahn, M.L., M. Connor, O.J. Schmitz, T.R. Stephenson, J. Wehausen, and H.E. Johnson. 2011. Disease, population viability, and recovery of endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1753–1766.
Clifford, D.L., B.A. Schumaker, T.R. Stephenson, V.C. Bleich, M.L. Cahn, B.J. Gonzales, W.M. Boyce, and J.K. Mazet. 2009. Assessing disease risk at the wildlife–livestock interface: A study of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Biological Conservation 142: 2559-2568.
