Office of Navajo Labor Relations, ex rel. Jones v. Central Consolidated School District No. 22

# Court Rules in Favor of Worker Discriminated Against by School District **The Dispute** Edith Jones worked for Central Consolidated School District No. 22 on Navajo Nation lands. She claimed the school district violated the Navajo Preference in Employment Act, which protects Native American workers from unfair hiring and treatment practices. The school district argued it couldn't be sued because of "sovereign immunity"—a legal shield that sometimes protects government entities from lawsuits. **The Court's Decision** The Navajo Nation court sided with Jones. The court awarded her $16,662.29 in damages and rejected the school district's sovereign immunity claim. The court found it had authority to hear the case based on a lease agreement that included a consent clause, meaning the school district had essentially agreed to follow local employment laws. **Why This Matters** This ruling strengthens protections for Native American workers. It shows that employers—even government agencies—cannot hide behind immunity claims when they violate employment preference laws designed to protect indigenous workers. The decision demonstrates that employment discrimination laws have real teeth and can result in financial accountability.