Tribal Courts

TLPI's Tribal Justice TTA project includes Objective 5: Develop publications with Task 5.1 to Develop or update four publications. Significant progress was made this reporting period for the first update to the THWC: Tribal Ten Key Components. Work on 3 additional updated or new resources will continue next reporting period.

Webinar description: Hear how tribes and their courts have exercised criminal jurisdiction or taken other steps to enforce criminal law on tribal ground.

White Earth is a FY24 CTAS PA 3 grantee. TTA Coach/Wellness Court Legal Specialist Jacob Metoxen set up an introductory call with Lori Thompson, Court Administrator for the White Earth Tribal Court. Local manuals from the courts White Earth is involved in with the state were shared. Wellness Court Specialist Angie Juárez-Monger will meet in-person with Gabriela Hanebuth and Jennifer Stangel who are on the HWC team at the New Grantee Conference in January 2025. Communication will continue next reporting period.

Webinar description for tribal court judges: Learn best practices for oversight of the attorneys who appear before you, from your bar exam/admissions to attorney discipline.

The NTCRC operates several email inboxes for staff and designated projects. Staff field inquiries from treatment court practitioners as well as monitoring inbox-specific inquiries regarding the NTCRC, Painting the Current Picture survey, and Drug Court Review journal. Inquiries range from single-response questions to more labor-intensive continuous assistance or researching targeting information. Response times range from minutes to days depending on the level of inquiry.

The NTCRC Advisory Board met once during fall 2024 on December 2.

NTCRC co-directors Dr. Kristen DeVall and Dr. Christina Lanier presented at the annual Tribal Law and Policy Institute Enhancement training, which was held in Phoenix, AZ from September 18-20. The training topic was case management.

Absentee-Shawnee is a FY24 CTAS PA 3 Grantee. TTA Coach/Wellness Court Legal Specialist Jacob Metoxen set up an introductory meeting with Tresha Spoon. Wellness Court Specialist Angie Juárez-Monger will meet with Ms. Spoon in-person next reporting period while at the CTAS New Grantee Orientation.

Stockbridge-Munsee is a FY24 CTAS PA 3 Grantee. TTA Coach/Wellness Court Legal Specialist Jacob Metoxen set up an introductory call with Judge Sterling Shreiber in December 2024. Wellness Court Specialist Angie Juárez-Monger will meet with Judge Shreiber in-person next reporting period while at the CTAS New Grantee Orientation.

Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island is a FY24 Adult Treatment Court Grantee. TTA Coach/Wellness Court Legal Specialist Jacob Metoxen met with the HWC Team December 17, 2024: Judge Voluck, Director of Justice Merculieff, and Project Manager Conduzzi. THWC goals and overall Aleut HWC status was reviewed. With plans to start a formal HWC in an urban setting in Anchorage, the team is looking to hire a coordinator. Resources were shared. Next call will be in January 2025.