Modoc Nation Attorney General admitted in the bar of the US Supreme Court

William Blake Follis, Modoc Nation Attorney General, took the oath of admission into the Bar of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2019.

Washington D.C. – William “Blake” Follis has been admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court on Monday, June 10, 2019 with fourteen other admittees from Washburn University School of Law.  

“I am very excited and privileged to gain admission into the Bar of the Supreme Court of our great Country,” says Follis. “This is a shared achievement. I did quite a bit of the leg work going through school and passing the bar to ultimately get out to Washington and take the oath, but this is an achievement for my Tribe and the effective leadership of our long-tenured Elected Council. I truly appreciate the people in the communities that I grew up in who have helped raise me. Additionally, I want to thank the teachers and professors who helped shape my focus; and most importantly my family, because without their support I wouldn’t be where I am.”

Follis attended Oklahoma State University, earning honors on the Dean’s and President’s lists for his degrees in Political Science and Sociology; additionally, receiving placement in the inaugural 2006 class of the George Washington University Native American Political Leadership Program. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 2013, with focuses on Federal Indian Law and Water Law; becoming the first Modoc to attend and graduate from a law school.

“One of the great opportunities that I was able to have was to visit with Supreme Court Justice, Sonya Sotomayor.” Follis says, “She is a remarkable woman and a delightful conversationalist. On the other hand, I don’t necessarily look forward to the day when I may have to make an argument in front of her and the other eight justices!”

Follis’ passion to work for the Modoc Nation and in civil service comes from his grandparents, (Chief) Bill and Janet Follis, who were keen on exposing Blake at a very early age to his family lineage, the Modoc history, public discourse, many dinner conversations, and taking him to countless local, state, tribal, and national government events. Follis comes from a politically involved family within the Modoc Nation, descending from Modoc Warrior Long Jim, the youngest fighter in the Modoc War who later served as Second Chief after the removal to Indian Territory, and his wife Annie Spicer who served on the Modoc Council. Many members of the Follis family have also served the Modoc Nation in executive positions throughout the years and continue to do so today.

“I know that people are proud of me for all that I’ve accomplished, but I have to tip my hat and say ‘thank you’ to all of those who have expressed that sentiment.” Follis says, “they’ve had to put up with me throughout the whole process and very little of it has been easy.”

In addition to being admitted into the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, he is a member of the Missouri bar and is admitted into the United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Second Circuits.

Blake Follis was appointed as the first Modoc Nation Attorney General in 2018. Prior to this appointment, he has held, and continues to maintain, the roles of Special Assistant to the Chief, Environmental Director, Modoc Bison Director and Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) Representative and served as Region 2 Director, Board Member and Officer for the several Modoc economic entities and governmental agencies. Follis also serves as the Member at Large for the State of Kansas Water Office on the Kansas Regional Advisory Committee. He enjoys flying airplanes, the outdoors, and learning the language, and about the history of the Modoc people. Follis has been married to his wife, Amber, for nearly five years and is the father to two sons, William & Brycen.

Press release provided from the Office of the Modoc Nation Attorney General.