KU News Release

KU student elected president of national Native American law student group

Burton Warrington

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas student has been elected president of the National Native American Law Students Association.

Burton Warrington, a second-year law student from Keshena, Wis., will serve during the 2008-09 term.

Warrington is perfectly suited for the role, said Stacy Leeds, professor of law and director of KU’s Tribal Law and Government Center.

“He has been an outstanding student leader since his undergraduate days at Haskell (Indian Nations University),” Leeds said. “His peers, on a national level, have recognized his leadership qualities, and they have made an excellent choice. Burton is already engaged and highly visible in the field of Indian law, having received tribal governmental appointments as a law student.”

Warrington (Menominee, Prairie Band Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk) was elected to the post by the association’s membership at the organization’s annual board meeting in Albuquerque, N.M. He is currently wrapping up a term as president of the KU chapter of the group. He is the son of Rebecca Warrington and the late Royal E. Warrington of Keshena. He attended Menominee Junior-Senior High School and College of Menominee Nation, both in Keshena.

In addition to his law coursework, Warrington co-teaches a course at the business school at Haskell and serves on the athletic commission for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. He is student director of the Tribal Law and Government Center, and he participated in the National Native American Law Students Association moot court competition this spring.

The National Native American Law Students Association is committed to the success of Native American law students, exposing to the legal community and the greater public the issues that Native American people and tribal governments face under the law and promoting the study of federal Indian law, tribal law and traditional forms of governance. It sponsors an annual job fair, moot court competition and writing competition, and provides networking opportunities for its members.

Warrington said his vision for the group is to bridge the gap that exists between Native American undergraduate students and the Native American legal community.

“I see NNALSA serving as a bridge organization, helping to encourage, support and introduce Native American students to the law and to legal careers,” he said. “Therefore, the majority of my time over the next year will be focused on recruitment.”

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.