معرفی
Melissa Tatum is a Research Professor of Law at the James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona, specializing in tribal jurisdiction, legal pluralism, and Indigenous peoples' law. She joined the faculty in 2009 after 13+ years at the University of Tulsa College of Law.
- Education: J.D. from University of Michigan Law School (magna cum laude, 1992); B.A. from Trinity University (magna cum laude, 1989)
Her research focuses on tribal courts, cultural property, sacred sites, and intersections between tribal, state, and federal legal systems. She has actively translated theory into practice, including:
- Consulting with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe on VAWA 2013 implementation
- Serving on task forces for cross-jurisdictional protection order enforcement
- Teaching seminars nationwide for judges, attorneys, and victim advocates
- Judicial role in the Southwest Intertribal Court of Appeals (1999-2006)
Recent publications emphasize legal pluralism's practical applications for Indigenous communities. Awards include the UA Grad College Excellence in Teaching (2020), Udall Center Fellowship (2017-2018), and multiple teaching accolades. She also serves as General Editor for the Mvskoke Law Reporter series and contributes to tribal legal code harmonization projects.
