The Navajo Nation’s first lady is now the top prosecutor in Apache County. Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren was sworn in earlier this week as county attorney.
The county Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Monday to appoint a new county attorney following the vacancy left by Michael Whiting, who has been accused of misusing public monies and threatening and intimidating a political opponent.
The wife of Navajo President Buu Nygren and former Arizona legislator says she is the first Native American county attorney in Arizona and one of the youngest.
Blackwater-Nygren, who holds a law degree from Arizona State University and is a former state representative, was among three candidates considered.
She replaces Michael Whiting. He was fired as county attorney in October. While he won re-election days later, he can’t serve the position. His law license was suspended after he was indicted for misuse of public monies. The board removed Whiting from office earlier this year, but not before the deadline to be on the 2024 ballot.
Blackwater-Nygren will serve until the 2026 election when the position returns to the ballot.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes served as acting Apache County attorney before Blackwater-Nygren was sworn in Monday.
Blackwater-Nygren said she will recuse herself from any conflicts involving the Navajo Nation because of her first lady status.
Around 70% of Apache County is part of the Navajo Nation, which is the country’s largest reservation at more than 16 million acres and spans areas of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southeastern Utah.
