Career
Shirley has been a member in good standing of the Navajo Nation Bar Association since December 1977. [2] [3] She served as a district court judge for the Crownpoint,New Mexico Judicial District. [2]
On June 27,2008,then-president Joe Shirley Jr. appointed Eleanor Shirley to the Navajo Nation Supreme Court as a probationary associate justice. The Navajo Nation Council confirmed the probationary appointment on July 24,2008. [2]
In October 2010,as her probationary period concluded,the Council's Judiciary Committee voted against granting her a permanent appointment. [1] The vote occurred despite a hearing where no negative information or comments about her were presented. [1] Committee member Leonard Tsosie,a lawyer,stated the 4 to 3 vote against Shirley was an act of "revenge" for recent Supreme Court decisions that were unfavorable to the Council's leadership. [1] Committee chairman Kee Allen Begay denied this accusation,stating the committee's decision was based on several factors,including Shirley's perceived "dependency" on chief justice Herb Yazzie,her "inadequate preparation," and a lack of dissenting opinions she had authored. [1] The committee scheduled a meeting for October 28,2010,with the intent to remove her from the bench. [1]
In a reversal,the Law and Order Committee recommended Shirley for permanent appointment on July 27,2011,and on August 29,president Ben Shelly issued a formal appointment letter. [2] The Navajo Nation Council confirmed her as a permanent associate justice in October 2011,and she was sworn into office on October 19 by Window Rock,Arizona district court judge Carol Perry. [2] [3]
During her tenure,Shirley administered the oath of office to Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council,LoRenzo Bates on January 26,2015. [3] In July 2015,she served as acting chief justice,and in that capacity co-signed an agreement with the Navajo President and Speaker outlining tribal government priorities. [4]
On July 3,2025,Navajo Nation president Buu Nygren,speaker Crystalyne Curley,and Law and Order Committee chair Eugenia Charles-Newton formally recognized Shirley as the interim chief justice of the Navajo Nation. [5] Her appointment followed the Council's decision not to make the previous probationary chief justice,JoAnn Jayne,permanent. [5]
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