Curtis Vandermolen, Associate

Curtis focuses his practice on federal Indian law with an emphasis on Indigenous environmental matters and the sovereignty of Indigenous nations. Curtis facilitates collaboration between Indigenous nations, federal, state, and local governments on culturally appropriate and legally compliant actions at the intersection of Indigenous and environmental issues.

Before joining Kronick, Curtis added four years of legal representation to a decade of public policy work in the California State Legislature and as Deputy Director at the California Transportation Commission. His public policy background gives Curtis a deep understanding of policy development and analysis, and intergovernmental negotiations. When negotiations break down, Curtis has experience litigating federal Indian law disputes between Indigenous nations and individuals; federal, state, and local governments; and others.

Beyond his legal practice, Curtis is actively involved in legal and civic communities, having served on and advised the boards of numerous organizations including the California Indian Law Association and the Capital Fellows Alumni Association. Curtis’ commitment to public service extends to ongoing research, including publications regarding integrating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into environmental analyses.

Legal Experience

• Represented Indigenous governments and local governments in defense of project development actions under CEQA and NEPA.
• Represented Indigenous governments in consultation with local governments pursuant to CEQA.
• Represented Indigenous governments in negotiations with state natural resources agencies for access to state properties for culturally appropriate activities and co-management of state properties.
• Represented Indigenous governments in administrative actions and state and federal courts in defense of the principles of tribal sovereignty.
• Represented Indigenous governments in negotiations for Tribal-State Compacts governing class III gaming pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
• Participated as a lead attorney on two leading suits against the State of California regarding Tribal-State Compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
• Represented Indigenous human services agencies in negotiations related to tailoring federal programs to unique client needs.
• Represented Indigenous governments and agencies in labor and employment actions.
• Assisted Indigenous governments with public policy development and implementation, including issues concerning: public safety, labor and employment, corporations and other business entities, waivers of sovereign immunity, and tribal consultation.
• Advised Indigenous governments on land acquisition, fee-to-trust and trust-to-trust applications, and the applicability of local, state, and federal law on fee, trust, and restricted fee property.

Representative Cases

• Corrales v. California Gaming Control Commission (2023) 93 Cal.App.5th 286 (cert. denied).  Established in California law that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is not an agent or representative of an Indian tribe and defended the tribe’s sovereign right to determine its leadership and government.
• Alturas v. Newsom (E.D. Cal. 2024) Case No. 2:22-cv-01486. Established that the State of California did not negotiate in good faith with Alturas Indian Rancheria for a class III gaming compact pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

• Member, California Indian Law Association
• Member, Capital Fellows Alumni Association
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, California Bar Association
• California State Bar # 338366

Admitted To Practice

• State of California
• US District Court for the Eastern District of California
• Intertribal Court of Southern California (2022)

Academic Background

• J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2020
  • magna cum laude
  • Water & Environmental Law Certificate
  • Accelerated Honors Program
• Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship, 2009-10
• B.A. California State University, Sacramento, 2008
  • Political Science