Kanassatega, Jay

Kanassatega, Joshua Jay Assistant Professor Director, Gonzaga University School of Law Federal Indian Law Program jkanassatega@lawschool.gonzaga.edu (509) 313-3723 B.A., Bridgewater State College, 1972 M.S., Purdue University, 1973 J.D., University of Washington, 1990 Judicial Externship, Eugene A. Wright, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1990

Biographical Information

Professor Kanassatega practiced law as an associate and shareholder at Leonard, Street and Deinard in Minneapolis, Minn., from 1990-2008.

His practice focused on complex commercial litigation in which he represented clients in governmental regulatory and parallel proceedings, in class action lawsuits, and in other commercial, financial, and transactional matters. He litigated cases in federal district court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the District of Minnesota, in the Minnesota Court of Appeals and a number of Minnesota's judicial districts, and in the court of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Menominee Indian Tribe.

Prof. Kanassatega also has extensive experience counseling clients in their commercial transactions with Indian tribes, agencies, and tribally controlled entities, as well as in representing and counseling Indian tribes, agencies, and tribally controlled community colleges.

Before attending law school, Prof. Kanassatega served as the first Solicitor General of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe from 1983-1987. He was instrumental in helping the Band design, draft legislation, and implement the first separation-of-powers Indian government in Minnesota, including the Band's first court system, the Court of Central Jurisdiction. He drafted legislation that comprised the Band's comprehensive body of civil law and successfully negotiated the motor vehicle reciprocity agreement between the Band and the state of Minnesota.

Prior to serving as Solicitor General, he served the Band as its Commissioner of Judicial Affairs, administered its Office of Management and Budget and served as its Economic Development Planner.

Teaching Areas

• Federal Indian Law
• Indian Law Clinic

Professional and Civic Activities

• Past Vice Chair, Co-Chair, and Chair, Committee on the Problems of the American Indian, ABA Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, 1991-2001
• Past Board Member, Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, 1995-2005
• Past Committee Member, Local Rules Advisory Committee, United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 1992-2001
• Past Member, Douglas K. Amdahl Inns of Court, 1995-2000
• Past Section Council Member, ABA Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, 2001-2004
• Past Vice Chair, Committee on Environment and Development in Indian Country, ABA Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, 1995-1998
• Former Member, Minnesota Governor's Commission, Ethics Subcommittee on Public Service Reform, 1993-1994

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