Arvo Mikkanen facts for kids

Arvo Quoetone Mikkanen (born April 1961) is a lawyer who works for the United States government. He is an Assistant United States Attorney in Oklahoma. This means he helps the government handle legal cases.

Before this, he was considered for a job as a federal judge. Throughout his career, which started in 1986, he has worked in many different legal roles. He has been a judge's helper, a lawyer for regular people, a judge, and a prosecutor for Native American tribes. He has also taught law at a university. Mikkanen often teaches others about federal crime investigations and Native American law. From 1991 to 1994, he was the main judge for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

Early Life and Education

Arvo Mikkanen went to Dartmouth College. He graduated in 1983 with high honors. He then earned his law degree from Yale Law School in 1986.

After law school, Mikkanen worked as a law clerk. This means he helped judges with their legal research and writing. He assisted Judge Lawrence S. Margolis and later Judge Robert Manley Parker.

Legal Career

Mikkanen has worked on many legal cases. As of 2022, he had handled over 750 cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. These cases included civil disputes, issues with young people, and criminal prosecutions. He has also argued cases in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mikkanen worked at a law firm called Andrews Davis. From 1988 to 1994, he helped businesses with legal problems. He also worked on cases involving product safety, trademarks, and real estate. He has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association since 1988.

Judicial Experience

Mikkanen has served as a judge in courts that handle Native American legal matters. From 1988 to 1994, he was a judge for the Court of Indian Offenses. This court is part of the United States Department of the Interior.

He also served as the chief justice for the Supreme Court of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. This was from 1991 to 1994. During his time as a judge, he wrote many important legal decisions.

Awards and Teaching

Mikkanen has received many awards for his legal work. In 1992, he won an award for helping people who couldn't afford a lawyer. He also received an award for protecting Native American children in 2003.

In 2004, he earned the American Bar Association's Spirit of Excellence Award. He also taught law as a professor at the Oklahoma City University School of Law from 1988 to 2000. In 2011, he received an award for his excellent service from a group of former U.S. Attorneys.

In 2012, Mikkanen received a special award from the Attorney General. This award recognized his outstanding efforts to fight crime in Native American communities. He has also taught many training sessions for law enforcement officers. These sessions focused on criminal justice in Native American areas. He has also been recognized by the FBI and ATF for his help in prosecuting federal crimes. For over 30 years, he was the president of the Oklahoma Indian Bar Association.

Federal Judge Nomination

In 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Arvo Mikkanen to become a federal judge. He was nominated for a position in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. If he had been confirmed, he would have been only the third Native American to serve as a federal judge.

However, his nomination faced opposition from Oklahoma's elected officials. They said they were not consulted about his nomination. Because of this, his nomination did not move forward. The White House later nominated someone else for the judgeship.

See also

• Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies
• List of Native American jurists