JoAnn Jayne facts for kids

JoAnn Jayne is an American and Navajo leader. She is a lawyer and politician. She currently serves as the Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation. She has held this important role since 2018.

Before becoming Chief Justice, she was a member of the Montana House of Representatives. She served there from 2001 to 2009. She was part of the Democratic Party.

Who is JoAnn Jayne?

JoAnn Jayne was born in 1957 in Shiprock, New Mexico. She studied at several universities. She earned degrees from Arizona State University, Tempe, University of Arizona, and the University of Montana. Her education helped her become a lawyer.

What was her early career like?

From 2012 to 2014, JoAnn Jayne worked as a Justice of the Peace. This role is like a local judge. She served in Lake and Sanders County, Montana counties.

She also ran for District Court Judge. She was the Democratic candidate in 2008 and 2012. These elections were for Sanders and Lake counties.

Becoming Chief Justice

In 2018, JoAnn Jayne was chosen to be the Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation. This is a very important position. She took over from Thomas J. Holgate. She is the first non-acting chief justice since 2015.

As Chief Justice, she leads the highest court of the Navajo Nation. This court helps make sure laws are followed. It also helps solve disagreements within the Navajo Nation.

See also

• List of first women lawyers and judges in Montana
• List of Native American jurists