Yurok Tribe Counsel Geneva Thompson appointed to state agency by Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Geneva E. Thompson,of Arcata as Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs at the California Natural Resources Agency. Thompson is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has been Associate General Counsel at the Yurok Tribe since 2019. 

Ms. Thompson has held positions at Wishtoyo Foundation from 2016 to 2019, including Staff Attorney and Legal Fellow. Ms. Thompson is a board member of the National Native American Bar Association and former chair of its Young Lawyers Committee. She is a member of the American Bar Association and a member and past president of the California Indian Law Association. Ms. Thompson earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. Thompson is a Democrat.