Tribal Courts Council
Once an unknown entity to most of the American legal system, tribal courts and indigenous justice systems have experienced marked growth over the last few decades. There are currently over 300 tribal courts serving diverse communities throughout the United States. Tribal judges, like their state and federal counterparts, are experiencing substantial increased dockets which include an array of subject matter from criminal law to family court to complex tort and commercial litigation.
As a recent addition to the ABA Judicial Division, the Tribal Courts Council is devoted to the recognition and enhancement of tribal courts and the continued support of tribal judges. The Council strives to promote and encourage the influence of tribal judges within the ABA and in the national legal community. This Council will accomplish this goal by organizing and co-sponsoring programs, providing mentorship, participating in more community outreach to minority bar associations, and playing an active role in ABA.
The Tribal Court's Council has an excellent opportunity to influence and educate the entire ABA membership about courts of this continent's original sovereigns. If you are interested in participating on this Committee and sharing your ideas, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Wado,
Tribal Courts Council Chair
Stacy L. Leeds
Former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice, Chief Justice,
Supreme Court for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and Professor of Law, University of Kansas
The Tribal Courts Council is devoted to the recognition and enhancement of American Indian Tribal courts and the judges thereof. Today, many believe that American Indians have become a neglected and often forgotten minority. Tribal Court justice systems in the United States for many are unknown, misunderstood or ignored. The same is true of the many contributions to our unique democracy made by the democratic governments of Native Americans before and during the time of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.
The very first Tribal Court Litigation Update of selected tribal court decisions from across the country prepared for inclusion in the Federal Bar Association's 31st Annual Indian Law Conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tribal Court Litigation Update 2
The Tribal Courts Council is looking to fill six openings on its Executive Committee. If you are interested in one of the positions below, please submit your resume and a cover letter stating the reason you should be considered for the position. Email this information to Gilda Fairley by Monday, June 30, 2008.
The nominating committee will submit their recommendations to the Tribal Court Council Executive Committee. Judge Charles Cloud chairs the nominating committee.
Openings:
Chair
Chair-elect
Secretary
Executive committee member (3)
Contact Gilda Fairley with questions at fairleyg@staff.abanet.org.
Business Meeting
Thursday, August 7, 2008
8:00 – 10:00a
Marriott Marquis
Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA
Saturday, August 9, 2008
9:00 – 10:30a
Marriott Marquis
Chelsea, Empire Complex, 7th Floor
What if there were places in the United States of America where the Rule of Law only applied to certain individuals or did not exist? A place where, before a sexual assault prosecution could be initiated, the prosecutor asked, “How severe is the crime and what is the ethnicity of the victims and defendants?” What if there were places where one out of every three Native women can expect to be raped in their lifetime? Or where rapists had little, if any, fear of apprehension, prosecution or incarceration? What if the systems of justice in these places were so compromised that Amnesty International* had to issue a report detailing the injustices? There are such places in the United States - Indian country.
A diverse, world class group of experts will guide participants through the Maze:
Robert O. Saunooke, Esq., Saunooke Law Firm, P.A., an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will moderate the panel. Mr. Saunooke practices almost exclusively in Indian Country. He has worked with the Department of Justice under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) as a technical assistance provider. Panelists include: Professor Gavin Clarkson, JD, Ph.D., University of Michigan School of Law and an enrolled member of the Oklahoma Band of Choctaw Indians; Mr. Gary Fields, an investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal who has written a series of groundbreaking articles on this national disgrace; James W. Kilbourne, Esq., former long time Prosecutor for the EBCI and an expert in criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country; Professor Bonnie Clairmont, a resource for the Amnesty International report; Gretchen C.F. Shappert, Esq., United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina and the current Chair of the Attorney General's Native American Issues Sub-Committe.
Do not miss this important program!
For more information regarding the Program, contact Gilda Fairley at fairleyg@staff.abanet.org.
This Program is cosponsored by Amnesty International, the National Association of Women Judges, Tribal Law & Policy Institute and the following ABA entities: Judicial Division Standing Committee on Minorities in the Judiciary; Judicial Division Lawyers Conference; Judicial Division National Conference of Federal Trial Judges; Judicial Division National Conference of Specialized Court Judges; Coalition for Justice; Commission on Domestic Violence; Commission on Women; Criminal Justice; Individual Rights and Responsibilities and the Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
*Amnesty International is a worldwide movement in over 150 countries that campaigns for internationally recognized human rights to be respected and protected. The Program name is used with permission from Amnesty International.
Concerns of Tribes in New York
Sunday, August 10, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 10:00a.m.
Nassau Suite B, 2nd Floor
Hilton New York
This program is sponsored by the Individual Rights and Responsibilities and cosponsored by the Judicial Division
Become a member of the Tribal Courts Council and give
Tribal Courts a voice in the American Bar Association.
(View the current council roster
). If you are already a member of the ABA Judicial Division, you may
complete the online membership form or print
a faxable form
now. Fax forms should be sent to (312) 988-5709. If you are not a
member, please call (800) 285-2221 or visit the ABA
Membership homepage to join the ABA and the Judicial Division.
You may then return to this site to complete your Tribal Courts
Council form.
September 6 & 7, 2007 the Tribal Courts Council cosponsored the 2nd Annual Conference on Stalking, The Brain - Love, Sex, Obsession and Narcissism: When Things go Awry. The program was presented by T.K. Wolf, Inc. and held in Tulsa, OK. The purpose of the conference was to bring together local, state and national leaders to better understand the brain mechanisms involved in stalking in order to respond better to stalkers and their victims.
Nominating Committee Report Released
The results of the first meeting of the Tribal Courts Council Nominating Committee are now available here.The Muscogee (Creek) National District Court
March 9-10-, 2006
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The Tribal Courts Council cosponsored The Third Annual Doing Business in Indian Country. The Conference was held March 9-10, 2006 at the Oklahoma State University.
Walking on Common Ground: Pathways to Equal Justice 2005 National Gathering
July 27-29, 2005
Green Bay, WI
The Tribal Courts Council cosponsored Walking on Common Ground: Pathways to Equal Justice 2005 National Gathering. The gathering took place July 27-29, 2005 at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center in Green Bay, WI.
Contact Gilda Fairley at
fairleyg@staff.abanet.org
321 North Clark Street, 19th Floor • Chicago, Illinois •
60654-7598 | T: (800) 238 2667 x5687 | F: (312) 988 5689
