New special prosecutor to replace Balaran
By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times
WINDOW ROCK, Sept. 26, 2011
Dana Bobroff, deputy attorney general for the Navajo Nation's Department of Justice, told Window Rock District Court Judge Carol Perry on Monday that the Special Division of Window Rock District Court overseeing the special prosecutor's assignments was discussing the selection of someone to replace Alan Balaran.
Balaran was hired about 18 months ago by DOJ after members of the Navajo Nation Council decided that a special prosecutor was needed to investigate then President Joe Shirley Jr. because of alleged misconduct in two failed business deals that cost the tribe millions.
Then Attorney General Louis Denetsosie later asked the court to extend the scope of Balaran's authority to include investigation into alleged misuse of tribal discretionary funds by Council members. Balaran would later file criminal cases against 77 of the 88 members then serving.
Most of the cases were later dropped in favor of civil suits against the same people, plus additional officials including Denetsosie, Shirley, and the tribe's current attorney general, Harrison Tsosie, and the controller, Mark Grant.
Bobroff, who works for Tsosie, said she met with Special Division officials Monday morning but did not go into detail about what was discussed or whether the court will look in-house for the next special prosecutor or bring someone in from outside the tribe, as with Balaran.
Balaran's last day is Friday, Sept. 30, but he said he is continuing to work on the cases up to the end, and is making arrangements so that when a new prosecutor is named, that person will be able to pick up where he left off.