Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Gina Allery as Director of the Office of Tribal Justice

The Justice Department today announced that Gina Allery has been appointed to serve as the Director of the Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ). Attorney General Merrick B. Garland swore Allery in to the office on Monday afternoon. In this role, Allery will lead OTJ and serve as the principal advisor on Tribal matters to the Attorney General and other Department leaders.

"Gina Allery's experience and leadership on Indian law and Tribal issues in a variety of roles across the Justice Department will make her an incredible asset to the Office of Tribal Justice," said Attorney General Garland. "I am confident that Gina will skillfully lead the Department's efforts to partner with Tribal Nations in the pursuit of justice and safety for Tribal communities. I am grateful that she has agreed to continue her public service in this important role."

OTJ was initially formed in 1995 in response to requests from Tribal leaders for a dedicated point of contact for Indian country-specific legal and policy matters. The office was made permanent on July 29, 2010, with the passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act.

OTJ is the program and legal policy advisor to the Attorney General on the treaty and trust relationship between the United States and Indian Tribes. The office also serves as a primary point of contact for federally recognized Tribal governments and Tribal organizations on Department policies and programs, as well as issues relating to public safety and justice in Indian country. OTJ also coordinates with other bureaus, agencies, offices, and divisions within the Justice Department on issues and initiatives that affect Tribes and American Indian and Alaska Native people.

Prior to her appointment, Allery served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Tribal Resources and Land Acquisition Sections of the Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), beginning in 2022. From 2018-2021, Allery served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota where she prosecuted violent crimes in Indian country. Previously, she served for six years as Deputy Director of OTJ, where she worked on a variety of legal and policy issues impacting Indian Tribes. Allery began her career with the Justice Department as an attorney in ENRD, where she litigated cases on behalf of Tribes, including land-into-trust, reservation boundary, treaty rights, and gaming cases. She served for three years as ENRD's Senior Counsel for Indian Affairs, providing legal advice to the Assistant Attorney General on variety of Indian law issues. She is a recipient of the John Marshall Award, the Department's highest award for attorneys for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Prior to working at the Justice Department, Allery worked in private practice. Allery earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Daron Carreiro, who has been serving as the Acting Director of OTJ since March 2024, will return to his role as Section Chief in ENRD's Tribal Resources Section.

"Daron Carreiro has been an excellent leader and advisor since beginning as Acting Director of OTJ," said Attorney General Garland. "I thank him for his dedicated public service and for his ongoing contributions to the Department's work alongside our Tribal partners."