David Getches
Encyclopedia
David Harding Getches was Dean
and Raphael J. Moses Professor of Natural Resources Law at the University of Colorado School of Law
in Boulder, Colorado
. He taught and wrote on water law
, public land law, environmental law
, and Indian law.
in 1942. Dean Getches received his B.A
from Occidental College
and his J.D.
degree from the University of Southern California Law School
. From 1970 to 1976 he served as Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund
(NARF), a nonprofit law firm specializing in Native American
issues. While at NARF, he litigated the controversial case United States v. Washington, 384 F.Supp 312 (W.D. Wash. 1974), also known as the Boldt Decision
, a case which affirmed the right of most Indian tribes in Washington State to harvest salmon.
Getches joined the law faculty at the University of Colorado School of Law
in 1979. He took two leaves of absence from the university, first to serve as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources
, during the administration of Governor Richard Lamm
, from 1983 to 1987, and then to serve as a special consultant to the United States Secretary of the Interior
in 1996.
In 2003, he was appointed to serve as dean of the law school. In May 2011, Getches stepped down from his position as Dean to serve as a faculty member. He died of an aggressive and advanced form of pancreatic cancer on July 5, 2011.
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and Raphael J. Moses Professor of Natural Resources Law at the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
. He taught and wrote on water law
Water law
Water law is the field of law dealing with the ownership, control, and use of water as a resource. It is most closely related to property law, but has also become influenced by environmental law...
, public land law, environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
, and Indian law.
Biography
Getches was born in Abington, PennsylvaniaAbington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
in 1942. Dean Getches received his B.A
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
and his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the University of Southern California Law School
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
. From 1970 to 1976 he served as Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund
Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund, also known as NARF, is a non-profit organization that uses existing laws and treaties to ensure that state governments and the national government live up to their legal obligations...
(NARF), a nonprofit law firm specializing in Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
issues. While at NARF, he litigated the controversial case United States v. Washington, 384 F.Supp 312 (W.D. Wash. 1974), also known as the Boldt Decision
Boldt Decision
United States v. Washington, 384 F. Supp. 312 , was a 1974 court case which affirmed the right of most of the tribes in Washington to continue to harvest salmon...
, a case which affirmed the right of most Indian tribes in Washington State to harvest salmon.
Getches joined the law faculty at the University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
in 1979. He took two leaves of absence from the university, first to serve as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the department of the government of the U.S. State of Colorado that is responsible for the development, protection, and enhancement Colorado natural resources for the use and enjoyment of the state's present and future residents, as well as for...
, during the administration of Governor Richard Lamm
Richard Lamm
Richard Douglas "Dick" Lamm is an American politician, Certified Public Accountant, college professor, and lawyer. He served three terms as 38th Governor of Colorado as a Democrat and ran for the Reform Party's nomination for President of the United States in 1996.He is currently the Co-Director...
, from 1983 to 1987, and then to serve as a special consultant to the United States Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
in 1996.
In 2003, he was appointed to serve as dean of the law school. In May 2011, Getches stepped down from his position as Dean to serve as a faculty member. He died of an aggressive and advanced form of pancreatic cancer on July 5, 2011.
Publications
- Water Law in a Nutshell (1997);
- Searching Out the Headwaters: Change and Rediscovery in Western Water Law and Policy, with Bates, MacDonnell and Wilkinson (1993);
- Controlling Water Use: The Unfinished Business of Water Quality Control, with MacDonnell and Rice (1991);
- Water Resource Management, with Tarlock and Corbridge (1993);
- Federal Indian Law, with Wilkinson and Williams (1998).