Indian Legal Clinic helps Gila River prosecutors win appeal

<p>Derrick Beetso, a third-year law student in the Indian Legal Clinic, recently assisted April Olson (Class of 2006) in an appeal before the Court of Appeals of the Gila River Indian Community.</p><separator></separator><p>Olson successfully prosecuted the defendant on the charges of theft and robbery. The defendant raised three issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court improperly precluded witnesses; (2) whether the trial court improperly admitted opinion testimony; and (3) whether the trial judge improperly relied on facts not in evidence.</p><separator></separator><p>Through the Indian Legal Clinic's partnership with the Gila River Indian Community Prosecutor's Office, Beetso was asked to argue the merits of the case before a three-judge panel of the Gila River Court of Appeals.</p><separator></separator><p>The case was argued on Sept. 16, and the Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the trial court decision in favor of the Community On Dec. 28.<br /><br />Judy Nichols, <a href="mailto:Judith.Nichols@asu.edu"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Judith.Nichols@asu.edu</span></a><br />(480) 727-7895<span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 9pt;" lang="EN"><br />Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law</span></p>