Devon Lee Lomayesva

Devon Lee Lomayesva is a Lecturer in the Department of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University and an Adjunct Professor at Palomar College. She currently serves as Chief Judge of the Intertribal Court of Southern California (ICSC), which adjudicates cases for twelve member tribes and addresses issues like child welfare, land disputes, and tribal governance. Additionally, she owns Lomayesva Law Corporation, representing tribes such as the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians in federal and tribal legal matters.

Educated at San Diego State University (B.A. History, 1994) and California Western School of Law (J.D., 1999), Lomayesva has held leadership roles including Executive Director of California Indian Legal Services, Tribal Council member for the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, and co-founder of the American Indian Recruitment Programs. Her work emphasizes tribal sovereignty, youth development, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration, such as her 2017 appointment to the Tribal Court-State Court Forum.

She is actively involved in organizations like the Native American Lawyers Association and the California Indian Law Association, while contributing to initiatives like the ICSC’s Agave Project for victim services and tribal youth peer court programs.