Bio
Crystal Pardue (she/her) is a Staff Attorney with the Racial Justice Program, focusing on Indigenous Justice. She comes to RJP from Ziontz Chestnut, a law firm in Seattle, where she represented tribal clients in federal and state litigation, federal lobbying efforts, business deals, and land-back negotiations. Her litigation has been focused on the defense of tribal sovereignty, protection of sacred national resources, and federal breach of trust. Prior to that position, Crystal was a 2-year Equal Justice Works fellow at the ACLU of Washington, where she developed and implemented a project to address the disproportionate discipline of Indigenous youth in Washington public schools. When the pandemic disrupted those plans, Crystal pivoted and focused on lack of broadband access that was being experienced by Indigenous students. She was also a member of the ACLU’s Indigenous Justice Working Group from its very inception. Crystal graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, Vice President of the Native American Law Students Association, and Co-President of the Women’s Law Caucus. Crystal is based in Seattle.
