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 has developed a specialty practice focused on assisting nonprofit clients nationwide with tracking, appealing, and litigating requests under the Freedom of Information Act and state records act laws. Maya is passionate about ensuring governmental transparency and accountability by requiring compliance with open records act laws and regulations in order to protect public lands and ensure the integrity of agency environmental policies and practices and Lange management. Maya has an additional niche practice in voting rights litigation. She has dedicated the majority of her legal career to protecting the right to vote and for every American's right to participate in the democratic processes. Maya litigates federal voting rights cases under the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution and has represented Native American tribes and tribal organizations. Her work has resulted in numerous successful court decisions, including a decision in the Tenth Circuit upholding remedial election districts drawn by a Special Master. Maya also has general counsel experience specific to hospitals and health care entities, where she assists with contract drafting and negotiation, policy drafting and interpretation, advising boards of directors, and assisting with employment issues.
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; District Court of the District of Columbia
REPRESENTATIVE CASES AND DECISIONS
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 929 F.3d 1270 (10th Cir. 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. April 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 has developed a specialty practice focused on assisting nonprofit clients nationwide with tracking, appealing, and litigating requests under the Freedom of Information Act and state records act laws. Maya is passionate about ensuring governmental transparency and accountability by requiring compliance with open records act laws and regulations in order to protect public lands and ensure the integrity of agency environmental policies and practices and Lange management. Maya has an additional niche practice in voting rights litigation. She has dedicated the majority of her legal career to protecting the right to vote and for every American's right to participate in the democratic processes. Maya litigates federal voting rights cases under the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution and has represented Native American tribes and tribal organizations. Her work has resulted in numerous successful court decisions, including a decision in the Tenth Circuit upholding remedial election districts drawn by a Special Master. Maya also has general counsel experience specific to hospitals and health care entities, where she assists with contract drafting and negotiation, policy drafting and interpretation, advising boards of directors, and assisting with employment issues.
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; District Court of the District of Columbia
REPRESENTATIVE CASES AND DECISIONS
Navajo Nation v. San Juan Cty., 929 F.3d 1270 (10th Cir. 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. April 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.
