Professor Larry Altman Recognized for Groundbreaking Legal Writing on Native Sovereignty
Avila University is proud to celebrate Professor Larry Altman, recipient of the Missouri Bar Foundation’s W. Oliver Rasch Award, one of the state’s most esteemed honors for scholarly legal writing. His award-winning article, published in the Journal of the Missouri Bar, examines the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 and affirms the enduring sovereignty of Native American tribes. For Professor Altman, the recognition was unexpected.
“I was stunned. I had tried for decades to get published in the Journal, and this was the very first article accepted. To then receive this award, it’s just overwhelming,” he shared.
A Career of Persistence and Passion
Altman, who has practiced law for nearly 50 years, has always valued research and writing. Over the past three decades, he submitted multiple articles to the Journal without success. His persistence paid off when he proposed writing about the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision upholding ICWA. Encouraged by editors to root his argument in constitutional law, he deepened his research into Congress’s authority to negotiate with sovereign tribal nations.
Altman’s article drew heavily from Justice Neil Gorsuch’s concurring opinion in the case, which strongly reinforced tribal sovereignty. His personal connections also played a role: Altman serves on three Department of Education grant teams that include American Indian representatives and regularly invites American Indian speakers into his classes. With encouragement from colleagues and friends, he expanded his research to engage directly with members of tribal communities, who later celebrated the article as a milestone for representation.
Respecting Sovereignty and History
Altman hopes his article serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing Native sovereignty and rights. “The Constitution recognizes American Indian tribes as sovereign nations. We owe them the same respect as we owe any sovereign nation. That means acknowledging their history, their rights, and their contributions as part of our society,” he explained. For Altman, the ruling is not just about law but about moving forward together.
“The Constitution’s first sentence is ‘to form a more perfect union.’ The most important word is more. How do we keep moving toward that goal? That means ensuring American Indians, and all qualified people are included and respected in every part of our society.”
A Shared Honor
Altman insists that the award is not his alone. He credits his wife, Gail, with shaping his career and inspiring his work. Married for more than 50 years, the two have partnered closely in both law and advocacy. “Any good I’ve done in this world is because of her. The award is a 50/50 honor. If she could stand beside me to accept it, she should,” he said. Together, they built a career rooted in service and teamwork, particularly in the field of special education law. Their commitment continues to guide Altman’s teaching and mentoring at Avila.
Teaching, Mentorship, and Future Research
Mentorship has been central to Altman’s journey. He credits Missouri Supreme Court Judge Richard Teitelman and Judge Ken Romines of the Missouri Court of Appeals as guiding figures who encouraged his work and career transitions. Their support, combined with his wife’s encouragement, shaped his path into education and writing. Today, his students are at the heart of his work. In his Introduction to Business Law course, students are required to develop business models that include anti-discrimination policies and inclusive practices. Altman reminds them that they, not the faculty, are the most important stakeholders in the university.
“You are the most important stakeholders. We are here for you,” he often tells his classes.
Looking ahead, Altman continues to pursue pressing topics in law and policy. He is currently collaborating with a colleague from the University of Texas on a paper addressing school safety, drawing on U.S. Secret Service research into threat assessment models. This approach is proactive and not reactive as the goal is to prevent violence before it occurs in our schools. He also continues to lead diversity training for the Missouri Bar, grounding his teaching in both law and history.
For students and legal professionals interested in publishing, Altman’s advice is straightforward:
“Find a topic you are passionate about and research it thoroughly. Don’t give up if your first attempts are rejected. Rejections aren’t failures, they’re lessons. Keep learning and trying because persistence will eventually pay off.”
A Legacy of Writing and Service
For Altman, the award is about more than recognition. It is a testament to decades of persistence, a commitment to justice, and a dedication to teaching.
“To be addressed as Professor Altman in the award letter reminded me of what one of my law professors who after he came a Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court once told me: that being recognized as a professor is one of the highest honors. I carry that with me, and I’m grateful to Avila, to my students, and to my family for making this possible.”
As he prepares to accept the award at the Missouri Bar Conference in Branson, Professor Altman remains both humbled and grateful, still “stunned,” in his words. Yet his humility, persistence, and passion reflect the very qualities that have shaped his career and continue to inspire his students at Avila University.
