Saturday, May 25, 2013

Navajo Nation's 'Mother of Justice' dies

The Navajo Nation's "Mother of Justice" passed away this week. Evelyne E. Bradley, who served as one of the tribe's first-ever women judges, died Tuesday surrounded by friends and family at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital. She was 88. Bradley served as a district court judge from 1984 until her retirement in 1995. When she first was appointed as a judge by former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah, she was 59 years old. "Apparently, some of the council delegates were giving her a hard time because they saw her white hair," said Evelyne Bradley's daughter, Francine Bradley, a retired police officer. "She said, Don't let this white hair and these wrinkles fool you.'" Evelyne Bradley served with the Ramah, Tuba City and Kayenta judicial districts in Arizona. She also served as acting chief justice from 1984 to 1985. After retirement, she was elected to the justice of the peace position for Navajo County in Kayenta, Ariz. "She was always firm. She always followed law, but she also treated the people like their mother," her daughter said. "She was mean but loving." That was partially because before the late Bradley was a judge, she had endured her own trials in life...more

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