Top federal prosecutors from across the Four Corner states are descending on the Phoenix metro area this week as part of an annual conference meant to tackle crime and justice in Indian Country.
A hotel room full of victim advocates, attorneys and tribal law enforcement personnel congregated in Glendale. Arizona’s top prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine, reminds them why they’re all meeting to begin with.
“It may sound like priorities are elsewhere in this administration,” said Courchaine on Wednesday, “but all of the U.S. attorneys up here and every member of leadership in the Department of Justice will tell you: Indian Country is always a priority.”
He was joined on stage by his neighboring legal counterparts: New Mexico First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Colorado U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly and Utah U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak.
From Phoenix and Albuquerque to Denver and Salt Lake City, Courchaine stresses they’re all on the same team — not opponents. “None of us are on an island, even though it may feel that way.”
“If you work with a rural tribe,” added Courchaine, “whether it’s in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico or Arizona, it might feel like you are at the ends of the earth and that you are alone.”
“We’re all here together, and most of the time, the plays go off pretty well. The bad guy’s charged. The victim is taken care of, the trial happens well, and a conviction comes from the United States — declaring justice. But other times, balls are fumbled. Plays don’t go off the right way.”
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