|
Mr. Boldrey’s practice focuses on Indian law with an emphasis on gaming, economic development, and state-tribal relations. He has also been involved in drafting legislation, lobbying federal and state decision-makers in the legislature and executive branch, and litigating public policy and constitutional issues.
Prior to joining Dykema, Mr. Boldrey served as Deputy Legal Counsel to former Michigan Governor John Engler and was responsible for all aspects of the state of Michigan’s relations with twelve federally recognized Indian tribes. Mr. Boldrey also oversaw census and redistricting efforts, litigation concerning state constitutional issues, and homeland security and emergency management matters. Mr. Boldrey has also previously served as an attorney and policy advisor to the Republican caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives, as a campaign coordinator, and as an associate in the Government and Commerce department of a Lansing, Michigan, law firm.
Experience
Indian gaming experience includes negotiating agreements between management companies and tribes, negotiating tribal-state gaming compacts, and negotiating and litigating other gaming-related issues.
Experience in negotiating solutions to complex tribal issues includes serving as lead staff for the state executive office in negotiations culminating in the nation’s first truly comprehensive state-tribal tax agreements and in the formulation of a consent decree governing state and tribal fishing activities in much of the Great Lakes.
Experience in state-tribal relations includes drafting an Executive Policy Statement on State-Tribal Relations, negotiating a state-tribal accord between the state of Michigan and federally recognized tribes, organizing the first two Michigan state-tribal summits between tribal and state leaders, and managing the passage of legislation providing for tribal participation in intergovernmental agreements.
Lobbying experience includes assisting in successful efforts to obtain federal and state appropriations, managing a rewrite of Michigan’s Emergency Management Act and passage of bipartisan anti-terrorism legislation, testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and various state legislative committees, and advocating a land claim settlement and land-to-trust applications to federal officials.
Significant Decisions
LeRoux v Miller, 465 Mich 594 (2002), (upholding validity of Michigan redistricting plans)
Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos v State of Michigan, 471 Mich. 306; 685 N.W.2d 221 (2004), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 1146 (2005), (upholding validity of Michigan tribal-state gaming compacts and process of enactment)
Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos v. State of Michigan, 478 Mich. 99; 732 N.W.2d 487 (2007), (upholding validity of amendment process in tribal-state gaming compacts)
Professional Associations
Federalist Society
Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association
Ingham County Bar Association
Michigan Republican Lawyers Association
Republican National Lawyers Association
Civic and Cultural Involvements
Trustee of the Morris K. Udall Foundation (presidential appointee)
Past president of the James Madison College Alumni Association.
Awards
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2007 and 2008 in the specialty of Gaming Law
2007 Distinguished Brief Award for Best Brief to Michigan Supreme Court, Thomas M. Cooley Law Review (for brief on behalf of Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Taxpayers of Michigan Against Casinos v. State of Michigan, 478 Mich. 99; 732 N.W.2d 487 (2007)).
| 