Courts

Held on December 18, 2024 in collaboration with our training and technical assistance partners – the UND School of Law – Tribal Judicial Institute (TJI). This webinar presented by BJ Jones, Tribal Judge and Executive Director at TJI and Michelle Rivard Parks, Tribal Judge and Associate Director at TJI and former Tribal prosecutor. This webinar included a discussion on both civil commitments and criminal competency issues in criminal proceedings in Tribal courts.
The discussion on Civil Commitments in Tribal Courts included the following topics:

Held on November 4, 2024 in collaboration with our training and technical assistance partners – the National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA). This webinar was presented by the Honorable Carrie Garrow, Chief Judge for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Court. This webinar discussed how judicial interaction with participants is a critical component of participants’ success. Motivational interviewing, created by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, is a method of communication and designed to help people explore and resolve ambivalence about changing behaviors.

Held on September 25, 2024 The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI), in collaboration with our training and technical assistance partners – the UND School of Law – Tribal Judicial Institute (TJI) hosted a webinar: Lessons from the Field: Insights from a Tribal Prosecutor, presented by Alfred Urbina, former Attorney General, Tribal Judge, and Tribal Prosecutor for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. This webinar was an engaging and informative session with Mr. Urbina as he shared valuable lessons learned throughout his distinguished career as a Tribal prosecutor.

Through monthly check ins, each TLPI TTA coach will work to support FY 24 assigned grantees in completing work plans and tracking their progress in accomplishing grant deliverables.

Through monthly check ins, each TLPI TTA coach will work to support FY 23 grantees in completing work plans and tracking their progress in accomplishing grant deliverables.

TLPI received an email from Lysette Morris, a peacemaker for the Prairie Band of Potawatomi. Leslie indicated that she was in search of materials for our committee, is in need of training and would like to have a call to discuss. They lost 4 members since Covid and are on the next general council agenda in January 2025. She also shared a potential flyer design for feedback and review. TLPI provided some resources and comments on the materials and proposed some times for a call. TLPI followed up in December to see if they could schedule a call to discuss additional needs.

TLPI supported a statewide conference/meeting by advertising meeting to FY23 CTAS Purpose Area 3 Tribal Justice System Grantees. One grantee, CTAS PA 3 Grantee Pueblo of Jemez was able to attend the the 2nd Annual New Mexico Association of Tribal Healing to Wellness Regional Training on December 4-5, 2024 in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM but did not need any funding or travel support( Task 3.3). TLPI will continue to offer conference presentations and support statewide meetings, as feasible (Task 3.2-3.3).

TLPI supported a statewide conference/meeting by funding the Hon. Kaniatariio Gilbert, Chief Judge from the Pueblo of Zuni to attend the the 2nd Annual New Mexico Association of Tribal Healing to Wellness Regional Training on December 4-5, 2024 in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM ( Task 3.3). TLPI will continue to offer conference presentations and support statewide meetings, as feasible (Task 3.2-3.3).

TLPI has taken an active role in the conference planning and has been meeting bi-weekly with Tribal TTA providers (Tribal Judicial Institute (TJI) at UND, NCJTC, and Rural Cap) to discuss the 2025 American Indian Justice Conference. Providing substantial feedback and recommendations for potential dates and locations to support the bidding process and location identification. Tentative dates are May 13-15, 2025 and potential location is Sky Ute Resort and Casino in Ignacio, CO. (Task 4.1) TLPI will also provide support in the pre-conference planning.

All Technical Assistance Providers for CTAS Grantees were invited to present a TTA Overview at the in-person FY24 CTAS New Grantee Orientation in Seattle, Washington on January 14-15, 2025. The Tribal Law and Policy Institute is a TTA provider for CTAS - Purpose Area 3 grantees with Tribal Court projects under the Tribal Court, Justice Systems, Intergovernmental Collaboration Project; and for Tribal Healing to Wellness Court projects under the Tribal Justice TTA Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts project.