By: Karen Francis

Lucinda Adekai-Yellowhair, chief probation officer of the Navajo Nation, has been appointed by Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch to the Committee on Probation as the tribal community representative. Ms. Adekai-Yellowhair’s appointment became effective October 12, 2011, and expires June 30, 2013.

“I feel very honored and privileged to represent the Navajo Nation, as well as the Judicial Branch,” Ms. Adekai-Yellowhair said. She plans to bring issues concerning the Navajo Nation to the attention of the Committee during her appointment.

The Committee on Probation is a subcommittee of the Committee on Superior Court, a standing committee of the Arizona Judicial Council. It examines current probation practices and develops rules, policies and procedures for recommendation to the Committee on Superior Court, the Arizona Judicial Council and the state Supreme Court, according to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 6-114.

Ms. Adekai-Yellowhair has worked as a probation/parole officer in Kayenta for 17 years, court administrator for Chinle Judicial District for four years, and has served as the chief probation officer since 2010. She holds Bachelors of Arts degrees from Northern Arizona University in criminal justice and sociology and from Arizona State University in business administration. She earned her Master of Arts degree in human relations from Northern Arizona University.

Ms. Adekai-Yellowhair is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. She also serves on the Judicial Branch’s Community Court Initiative Committee, the Navajo Nation Domestic Violence Task Force and the Navajo Nation Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Task Force. She has volunteered as a victim advocate for Kayenta region since 1998.