CHEROKEE ATTORNEY KEITH HARPER SWORN IN AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Confirmed in 2014 as U.S. Representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Keith Harper became the first federally-recognized tribe member to serve at the ambassadorial level. Born in 1965, he received his undergraduate degree from University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He began his legal career clerking on the Second Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. From there, Harper was senior staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund from 1995 to 2006. From 1998 to 2001, he was both an adjunct law professor at Catholic University of America and Law Lecturer at American University. Becoming partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Keith was chair of its Native American Practice Group. From 2001-07, he served on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court and, from 2007-08, on the Supreme Court of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. In 2017, he left the U.N. post and returned to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.
Source: “Cherokee Citizen Keith Harper Named US Representative to UN Human Rights Council”. Native News Online.Net, 6/4/2014. Retrieved 7/2/2019, http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/cherokee-citizen-keith-harper-named-us-representative-un-human-rights-council/
Photo: Eric Bridiers, U.S. Mission Geneva, 6/10/2014. Public Domain. Photograph taken by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.