Autumn L. Bernhardt Resume
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Red Leaf Professional Contracting, LLC
Consultant (Present)
Strategic planning, independent evaluation, and alternative dispute resolution
Training related to water literacy, environmental/agricultural stewardship, and communication across cultural, disciplinary, and generational boundaries
University of Wyoming College of Law
Assistant Professor (2022 – 2023)
Taught Legislation, Advanced Appellate Advocacy, and Federal Indian Law courses
University of Colorado - Masters of the Environment
Environmental and Natural Resources Faculty Specialization Lead
Associate Teaching Professor (2021- 2022)
University of Colorado - Masters of Outdoor Recreation Economy
Public Lands and Natural Resources Policy Faculty Certificate Lead
Associate Teaching Professor (2021- 2022)
Colorado State University - Anthropology and Geography / Ethnic Studies Departments
Adjunct Faculty (2018-2021)
Developed and taught courses addressing environmental stewardship, culture, and law
Steer Me Home, LLC
Owner (2012-2019)
Crossbreed cattle and grassland stewardship
Colorado State University - Honors Program
Adjunct Faculty (2013 - 2017)
Developed and taught seminars about U.S. and International natural resources policy, civil rights, and political movements
Front Range Community College - Political Science Department
Adjunct Faculty (2011 - 2014)
Taught American Government and Introduction to Political Science courses
Colorado Department of Law - Federal, Interstate, and Reserved Water Rights Unit
Assistant Attorney General (2007 - 2012)
Served as Counsel of Record and worked on U.S. Supreme Court, Colorado Supreme Court, and water court cases, as well as arbitrations related to interstate river compacts
White Mountain Apache Tribe
Assistant Tribal Attorney (2005 - 2006)
Served as the environmental, cultural resource, and legislative attorney
17th Judicial District in State of Colorado
Judicial Law Clerk (2004 - 2005)
Prepared case management orders, drafted judicial opinions, and assisted in trials
Native American Rights Fund
Summer Law Clerk (2003)
Researched and wrote memorandum related to UNDRIP, Klamath Basin Water Adjudication, and Klamath Forest federal legislation
University of Colorado - School of Law
Research Assistant for Charles Wilkinson (2002 - 2004)
Researched the book Blood Struggle, edited the manuscript, and developed chapter endnotes
IMPORTANT SELECTED CASES
United States Supreme Court
Kansas v. Nebraska & Colorado, No. 126, Original.
Kansas v. Colorado, No. 105, Original, Kansas v. Colorado, 129 S.Ct. 1294 (2009).
Colorado Supreme Court
City and County of Broomfield v. Farmers Reservoir & Irrigation Company, 239 P.3d 1270 (Colo. 2010).
Reynolds v. Cotten, 274 P.3d 540 (Colo. 2012).
Federal Cases
Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Service, 408 F.Supp.2d 866 (D. Ariz. 2006).
Peabody Western Coal Co. v. E.E.O.C., 546 U.S. 1150 (2006) (certiorari denied).
Arbitrations
Worked on two arbitrations required by the Republican River Final Settlement Stipulation
PUBLICATIONS
Academic Journals and Book Chapters
Kekek Jason Stark, Autumn L. Bernhardt, Monte Mills & Jason Robison, Re-Indigenizing Yellowstone, 22 Wyo. L. Rev. 397 (2022) (invited article).
Autumn L. Bernhardt, The Profound and Intimate Power of the Obergefell Decision: Equal Dignity as a Suspect Class, 25 Tul. J. L & Sex. 1 (2016).
Autumn L. Bernhardt, Pastoral and Civilized in Vision & Place: John Wesley Powell and Reimagination of the Colorado River Basin (Robison, Minckley & McCool eds., 2020).
SELECTED HONORS
CSU Honors Professor of the Year Nominee (Academic Years 2016-2017 and 2015-2016)
Colorado Water Conservation Board Resolution Honoring the Kansas v. Colorado Litigation Team
SELECTED SERVICE
CU Environmental Studies Outreach Committee (2021-2022)
CSU Udall Scholarship Selection Committee (2014-2017)
EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate
University of Colorado School of Law (2004)Bachelor of Science in Political Science
Minor in Spanish
summa cum laude, Honors Scholar
Colorado State University (2001)