Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB). Co-Chair of the first Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum. Nationally-recognized expert on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).

The Honorable Allie Greenleaf Maldonado is the Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) and also a citizen of the tribe. Judge Maldonado has served the LTBB as a judge since 2002.

In addition to serving her tribe, Judge Maldonado has also served Indian Country through her indefatigable advocacy and support of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Judge Maldonado successfully litigated the first case in which the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the termination of parental rights due to a failure by the state to follow ICWA. In recognition of her efforts on behalf of the LTBB and Indian Country she was awarded the Unsung Hero Award by the Michigan State Bar.

In the words of the HLS community member who nominated her, “Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado is a truly inspiring, kind, and generous person. She has dedicated her life to protecting and promoting the interests of her tribe and the rights of Native American children across the country. She has used her legal background to become an expert on issues that have an enormous impact on Native American children and families and in turn has changed countless lives for the better on an individual, tribal, state, and federal level.”

Judge Maldonado is being honored as part of the Harvard Law and International Development Society and the Harvard Women’s Law Association's 3rd Annual Harvard Law School International Women’s Day Portrait Exhibit.

The exhibit features inspiring women working in the fields of law and policy and will line the first and second floors of Wasserstein Hall from February 29th – March 11th.