John R. Snowden

Professor of Law Emeritus

Biography

Mr. Snowden joined the faculty in 1971. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Nebraska in 1966 and his J.D. degree (Order of the Coif, with Distinction), in 1971. While in Law School he served as Research Editor of the Nebraska Law Review and was a member of the College's National Moot Court Team. After graduation, he accepted a position as Instructor at the University of Michigan Law School for the 1971-1972 school year. He was a Law Clerk for Chief Justice Paul White, Nebraska Supreme Court, before joining the faculty. He received a University of Nebraska Teaching Council Summer Fellowship in 1973 to sponsor an experimental undergraduate law course to be taught by law students in the Centennial College. He is a member of the Nebraska Bar, the Nebraska Bar Association House of Delegates, the American Bar Association, and the Omaha Tribe Bar. For the 1974-75 academic year, Mr. Snowden was a Fellow in the Law and Humanities Program at Harvard. He teach Jurisprudence, Legal Process, Criminal Law, Native American Law, and Mass Communications Law.

Courses

  • Native American Law Law 796/G (3 cr hr)
    Investigation of the federal statutory, decisional, and constitutional law that shapes the interactions of Indian tribes, the states, and the federal government. The course includes an overview of the history of federal Indian policy and emphasizes the unique legal principles that inform the modern federal trust responsibility, tribal sovereignty, and complex civil and criminal jurisdictional issues that arise in Indian Country. Current topics including tribal water rights, tribal justice systems, reservation economic development, and tribal religious rights will also be addressed.

  • Native American Law Seminar Law 797/G (3 cr hr)
    Legal concepts historically used to fit Native American nations into the legal structure of the United States are examined. The legal power or jurisdiction of the federal government, the states and the tribes is explored in cases, legislation and practice. Students who have previously taken Native American Law (Law 796) may not enroll in this course.

Education

  • J.D., with distinction, University of Nebraska College of Law, 1971
  • Order of the Coif, 1971
  • B.A., University of Nebraska, 1966

Areas of Expertise

Appointments

  • Professor of Law, 1988
  • Associate Professor of Law, 1975
  • Assistant Professor of Law, 1972
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