2023

Speakers

Kimberly L. Fondren

Law Enforcement Team Leader, Division of Parks and Wildlife, Office of the Solicitor, Department of Interior

Kimberly Fondren is a 30 year veteran employee of the Solicitors Office.  She has been an attorney in Division of Parks and Wildlife in the Solicitors Office since October 2000.  Kim works as a split between National Parks Branch and Fish and Wildlife Branch.  Her main focus is Law Enforcement and many of the other issues she works on are ones that impact both client agencies in similar ways. Her practice includes Law Enforcement-general issues for Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, Resource Crimes, e.g., criminal violations of ESA, MBTA, Lacey Act, NAGPRA, ARPA etc., Native American Religious Freedom and Hunting Rights Issues, RFRA/RILUPA, Wildfire Issues, Wildlife Inspections, Civil Enforcement Actions for violation of Resource laws and the Refuge Act, Asset Forfeiture, NAGPRA international trafficking enforcement, and enforcement issues involving Fossils and protection of Paleontological Resources. Kim was one of the drafters for the Paleontological Resource Protection Act.

Kim is the Solicitors Offices lead attorney on First Amendment issues and has substantial expertise on Fourth Amendment issues as well. She has worked with Solicitor General’s Office at Justice Department on three amicus briefs involving DUI blood draws, and several First Amendment Amicus Briefs.  Kim previously worked in Division of Land and Water for 6 years as the Law Enforcement Attorney for BLM and on occasion for BOR as well. She also worked on wildfire issues, animal cruelty issues, Wild Horse and Burro Act, PILT, etc.  Before that, she spent a year in the Solicitors Office Honors Program.  Kim grew up in Selma, Alabama.  She graduated with a B.A. cum laude in English and History from Judson College, a Southern Baptist Women’s College in Alabama, and magna cum laude from the University of Alabama Law School.  Kim also served on the editorial board for the Law Review.

Kim enjoys gardening and reading. She comes from a family full of musicians, at one point she played 2 instruments, now plays none. She has a husband and two children, aged 11 and 13.