Martha Blue facts for kids

Martha Blue (born around 1942) is an American lawyer and author. She is a partner in the Arizona law firm of Wade and Blue.

Martha Blue's Legal Journey

Martha Blue became a lawyer in Arizona in 1967. In 1974, she started her own law practice. She focused on areas like publishing, art, copyright, human rights, and Native American law. When she was a young lawyer and a new mom, she often brought her daughter to work with her.

Helping Native American Communities

In 1967, Martha Blue was one of the first lawyers to work at Dinébe’iiná Náhiiłna be Agha’diit’ahii (DNA). This was a special program that offered legal help to the Navajo and Hopi people. She took this job partly because it was hard for women lawyers to find positions back then. She was one of only three women in her law school class, and most jobs offered to them were just as law clerks.

While at DNA, Martha handled more than 6,000 cases. She also trained Native American people to become legal helpers in their own tribal courts.

Working with Tribes in Arizona

For seven years, Martha Blue lived in Tuba City, Arizona, which is on Navajo lands. She often works with the Hualapai, Navajo, and Hopi people. Her law firm, Ward and Blue, is based in Flagstaff, Arizona. It also has an office in Tuba City.

Martha also worked as a lawyer for the Tuba City School Board. She was the main lawyer for the Havasupai tribe. She helped them write their own tribal laws. The Havasupai tribe lives at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The only ways to reach them are by walking, riding a horse, or taking a helicopter.

Working in Micronesia

Martha Blue also lived for a while in Micronesia. There, she faced challenges because she was a woman. In 1971, she helped create a legal help program for people living in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Teaching and Recognition

Martha Blue has taught many classes, including courses about Navajo culture at Northern Arizona University. She often advises people on issues related to Native American well-being. In 2000, the Maricopa County Bar Association honored her. They named her one of 100 minority lawyers who had made a big difference in Arizona. Martha Blue has also led the Arizona State Bar Association's Art Law Committee.

Martha Blue's Early Life

Martha Blue was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her family moved to Cleveland when she was a child. When she was 11, they moved west, first to Colorado and then to Arizona. The family settled in Prescott, where she finished high school.

As a child, Martha first wanted to be a missionary in Africa. Then she wanted to be a doctor. But in high school, she decided to become a lawyer. She went to the University of Arizona for both her first degree and then for law school. She finished a program that usually takes seven years in just six years. She earned her law degree in 1966.

Community Involvement

Martha Blue started and was the president of the Friends of the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. She also served on the board of the Museum of Northern Arizona and Native Americans for Community Action.

Martha Blue's Family

Martha Blue has a sister, Marlene McGoffin, and a brother, Quentin Craft. She was married to Roy Ward, who was also her law partner. They have a daughter named Zoe. Martha Blue lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.