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Steve Bodmer

Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe of South Carolina

General Counsel

Session 1

Pechanga Band of Indians

Steve Bodmer is an enrolled member of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe of South Carolina and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. His commitment to serving Indian Country and defending tribal sovereignty is evident throughout his career. Steve earned his Juris Doctor from Arizona State University College of Law, where he also received the Indian Legal Program Certificate, signifying study and expertise in Federal Indian law. Steve serves as General Counsel for the Pechanga Band of Indians in Temecula, California. In this role, he provides comprehensive legal counsel to the Tribal Council and the Pechanga Development Corporation, overseeing the legal affairs of the Tribe, the Pechanga Resort Casino, and all economic development projects. His practice areas include federal Indian law, gaming law, tribal governance, and tribal economic development. Steve is also an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, Gould College of Law, where he teaches Federal Indian Law.

Presenting in the following sessions:

Thursday

Oct 29, 2026

1:30 PM

Session 1

0.75 MCLE

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Keynote: The Future of Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Advocacy in an Era of Automated Legal Reasoning

In our 2026 keynote presentation, Steve Bodmer will address the evolving role of tribal attorneys in Native law as AI becomes ubiquitous. He will discuss the legal implications of AI bias, ethical responsibility when using AI, tribal control and governance of its tribal knowledge, and much more. The discussion will include how tribal attorneys can use AI tools effectively, rather than surrendering professional judgment to them.

Moderating the following sessions:

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