Steven C Boos authored resolutions for both Commissioner Maryboy and Grayeyes
Here are the results of a GRAMA request we filed to San Juan County asking who authored the Bears Ears and other resolutions that were presented by Commissioner Maryboy back in January 2019. The Bears Ears resolution along with other presented by Maryboy were passed in February 2019. We wanted to know who had authored the resolutions since they went against everything the county and most of the people in San Juan County had been working towards for the last several years.
The following letter was given to The Petroglyph in answer to our GRAMA request:
This letter dated March 12, 2019 is from the law firm of “Maynes, Bradford, Shipps, & Sheftel, LLP that has offices in Durango and Denver Colorado. Steven Boos works at of the Durango Colorado office.
Steven Boos has been the private council for Willie Grayeyes in his law suit against the county. He is also the private council of Grayeyes in the election contest suite by Kelly Laws. Steven Boos appears to have been involved in several cases against San Juan County over the years. Steven was the Chief Legislative Counsel of the Navajo Nation from 1995 to 2001. He has had “a long professional relationship” with Grayeyes and Maryboy. He states he worked with them when they were delegates on the Navajo Nation Council during time periods when the Navajo Nation was actively taking the county to court on different issues.
“Steve’s professional experience has been focused on the representation of Indians and Indian tribal governments. He served as a staff attorney, senior attorney, and acting Director of Litigation for DNA — People’s Legal Services from 1983 through 1992. During the latter part of this period, he also served as an Associate Judge of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Court. In 1992, Steve began work as a staff attorney for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice where he conducted general litigation on behalf of the Navajo Nation. In 1995, he was appointed to serve as the Chief Legislative Counsel of the Navajo Nation, where he represented the 88 member Navajo Nation Council and assisted in the creation and adoption of legislation for the Navajo Nation, as well as providing general representation of the Navajo Nation Legislative Branch and its entities.
Steve has served as both the President and Vice-President of the Navajo Nation Bar Association (1992–1994) and is a current member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association Disciplinary Committee. Steve also served a term as a member of the DNA-People’s Legal Services Board of Directors (1998–2000).” from Navajo Nation Law conferance BIO
It appears that Steven C. Boos has been acting as Grayeyes and Maryboy’s personal attorney for the last six months. During the last three months both Maryboy and Grayeyes have held the office of County Commissioner for San Juan County. This really raises a lot of different questions that we will address later.
For now, we see that Steven Boos authored all the resolutions for both Maryboy and Grayeyes after they were elected to be county commissioners.
Steven stated in the above letter, “After discussing issues with the two of you and understanding your goals, I was the principal author of the resolutions, including the resolutions concerning the Bears Ears National Monument, that are the subject of the GRAMA request.”
Steven Boos appears to have visited with both commissioners which opens some issues with open meeting laws. It appears he claims client attorney privilege as a free pass in ignoring open meeting laws. It seems like a hug conflict of interest for Boos to represent both Grayeyes and Maryboy in any issue pertaining to resolutions, or court cases against the county. Not only that but it is very clear why Maryboy and Grayeyes are actively pursuing the agenda of special interests’ groups like Dine Bikeyah and the Navajo Tribe and not the majority of San Juan County residents. It is also reported that all of Boos legal services don’t cost Grayeyes and Maryboy a dime. This under the table unethical behavior by the three amigos explains why Commissioner Grayeyes goes so far to ask the county to reimburse his mileage, and meals when he attended court in his law suit against the county.
Does anyone else see a problem with this relationship between two county commissioners and Steven Boos?
