Laurel Iron Cloud

Education: B.A., Georgetown University; J.D., University of Colorado School of Law

Experience: Laurel Iron Cloud, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was raised in southwest South Dakota in the Knife Chief community on the Pine Ridge reservation. She currently serves as the deputy director of the Indian Law and Order Commission. Prior to working with the commission, Ms. Iron Cloud was the criminal law specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, Division of Tribal Justice Support. In that position she provided outreach and assistance to tribes who were in the process of developing new court system, and also evaluated existing tribal courts for tribes interested in enhancing their criminal justice systems. Immediately upon graduation from law school, Ms. Iron Cloud returned to her home tribal community to provide civil advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She continued her legal career in private practice, joining the Abourezk Law Firm in South Dakota to represent tribes, tribal housing and educational organizations, and individual plaintiffs before state, federal, and tribal courts. Ms. Iron Cloud has also served as a civil, juvenile, and family court judge for the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation in Arizona.