Chief Justice Yazzie comes from the community of Dennehotso, Tábąąhí clan, born for Kinłichíi'nii, Tó'áhaní (maternal grandparents) and Tódích'íi'nii (paternal grandparents). 

Chief Justice Yazzie has always worked with the Diné in public service.  He served as attorney for DNA People's Legal Services and was legal counsel for the Kayenta Township.  He was a school board member of the school at his community and later a member of the Executive Board of the Navajo Area School Board Association.

Chief Justice Yazzie has also served the Navajo Nation as its Attorney General and as its Chief Legislative Counsel and was an attorney for the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

Chief Justice Yazzie is a military veteran, serving a tour in Vietnam as an Army lieutenant. 

He is a 1975 graduate of Arizona State University College of Law. He has been a Utah State Bar member since 1976 and is a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association.