Merri Lopez-Keifer has dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous rights, strengthening tribal-state relations, and promoting justice and safety for Native communities across California. She is the Executive Director of the Center for Indigenous Law & Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law, where she leads research, teaching, and engagement initiatives, working closely with Native students, tribal governments, and community partners to foster belonging and address critical issues facing Indigenous communities.
From 2020 to 2025, Merri served as Director of the Office of Native American Affairs at the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ), acting as the Attorney General’s legal and policy advisor on tribal affairs, public safety, and issues affecting California’s Native communities. She created statewide programs addressing human trafficking and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis, and developed and implemented the structure of California’s Attorney General Public Law 280 Advisory Council, fostering collaboration among tribal, state, and federal partners to improve public safety and support tribal sovereignty.
Merri is a tribal citizen of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians. Before joining the CA DOJ, she served as Chief Legal Counsel for her Tribe for more than two decades, providing legal counsel to the Tribal Council on matters of governance, environmental compliance, cultural resource protection, and land use. In this role, she was instrumental in uniting the seven Luiseño Bands during the repatriation of ancestral remains at Tomqáv, advancing a resolution that honored the heritage and dignity of her community.
Merri began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco, specializing in the prosecution of domestic violence cases. She also maintained a solo practice, representing Native advocacy organizations and clients in corporate, labor, estate planning, and real estate matters.
A recognized expert at the state and national level, Merri serves on multiple advisory boards and committees and frequently provides expert testimony and presentations on tribal sovereignty, MMIP, environmental co-management, and tribal consultation law. She earned her J.D. from Boston College Law School and her B.A. in Law and Society from UC Santa Barbara, reflecting a lifelong commitment to justice, cultural preservation, and the advancement of Native communities.
Education
JD, Boston College Law School (1998)
BA, University of California, Santa Barbara (1993)