Here:
Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference Panel — Tribes and Territories: Unique and Active Members of the American Political/Legal Family
Here:
judges
Tribal Judges Gather for Justice McKeig’s Swearing-In
US Moves to Recuse Federal Judge from Indian Water Rights-Related Matter Due to Bias against Federal Government
Here is the motion in United States v. Walker River Irrigation District (D. Nev.):
White Earth Descendant Selected for Minnesota Supreme Court
Congratulations Judge Anne McKeig
Link to full article here
From the article:
Gov. Mark Dayton has selected Fourth Judicial District Judge Anne McKeig as the next Supreme Court justice, giving the state’s highest court its first American Indian jurist, as well as the first female majority since 1991.
McKeig, 49, a descendant of White Earth Nation, has specialized in child protection and Indian welfare issues. She was first appointed to the bench in 2008 by GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty. She will replace retiring Justice Christopher Dietzen, also a Pawlenty appointee.
The selection means that Dayton has made a majority of appointments on the 7-member court, likely ensuring his legacy on the bench long after he leaves office. He has now appointed five justices, though former Justice Wilhelmina Wright joined the federal bench earlier this year.
In his two terms, Dayton has made diversifying the state’s courts a priority. He praised McKeig’s legal experience, and he also emphasized her biography, reading a passage from her application as he announced his pick.
“I grew up in rural Minnesota in challenging circumstances surrounded by poverty,” McKeig wrote. “The lessons I learned as a young woman from Federal Dam, Minn. planted in me a strong desire to make a difference for my community. My passion for public service comes from seeing the enormous need matched against the limited resources on the reservation.”
McKeig delivered an emotional speech Tuesday to reporters, members of her family and other Minnesota dignitaries, including the state Supreme Court. She called her appointment a “historic day” for American Indians. She thanked trailblazing Judge Robert A. Blaeser for paving the way for other American Indians pursuing legal careers.
“I didn’t know him, but he was a White Earth member,” McKeig said, recalling the impression his 1995 swearing-in ceremony left on her. “And, I, a proud descendant of the White Earth nation, knew that if he could do it, than maybe I could.”
She added: “It is people like him and his wife who have led the way that have allowed for others like me to dare to dream. So today is a historic day, not only for myself and for my family, but for all native people.”
Nooksack Indian Tribe Request for Qualifications — Pro Tem Judge Services
| This Request for Qualifications is directed at qualified individuals and/or firms interested in serving as a Pro Tem Judge for the Nooksack Indian Tribe. The Nooksack Tribal Court exercises jurisdiction over a broad range of civil and criminal matters. A Pro Tem Judge will be appointed to hear cases, as assigned by the Chief Judge, in instances where the Nooksack Tribal Court Chief Judge is ill, disqualified, or otherwise unavailable. This is a part time, as-needed appointment, and compensation will be negotiated. Specifically, contractors providing Pro Tem Judicial services will be placed into a pool and drawn from on an as-needed basis when judicial conflicts arise.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Preside over cases as assigned by the Chief Judge. Prepare and issue written orders, judgments, search and arrest warrants. Keep accurate records of cases and court hearings. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Possess JD from an ABA-accredited law school and admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, or any United States Circuit Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court of any state of the United States. Extensive experience in: (1) criminal case adjudications; (2) juvenile dependency and delinquency; (3) family law and child support; and (4) general civil case adjudications, including complex litigation. Demonstrated knowledge in the following areas: (1) Federal Indian law and policy; (2) Tribal law; and (3) Tribal customs and traditions. Is at least 30 years of age. Has never been convicted or pleaded guilty to any felony, nor been found guilty of any crime involving fraud or dishonesty. Maintain a current business license and admitted to practice before the Nooksack Tribal Court. Successfully pass a background investigation and drug test. Interested individuals (or firms) should submit a letter of interest including availability, along with a current resume and the names of at least three professional references to: Suzanne Brownrigg, Human Resources Director Nooksack Indian Tribe P.O. Box 157 Deming, WA 98244 (360) 592-5176 sbrownrigg@nooksack-nsn.gov |
| NOOKSACK INDIAN TRIBE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PRO TEM JUDGE SERVICES (6/2016) |
NAICJA Joins Forces with NCJFCJ
Link to Announcement: here
Boulder, CO: The National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) is pleased to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been memorialized establishing a working relationship between NAICJA and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). Importantly, the MOU provides for joint membership in the two organizations, allowing NAICJA members access to the resources of both national judicial membership organizations.
Established in 1969, NAICJA is a non-profit corporation and the only membership association of tribal court judges and tribal court personnel in the nation. NAICJA’s current projects and goals are concerned with: advocating on behalf of tribal justice systems; securing necessary funding for tribal justice systems so they may continue to excel; providing education and training to tribal judiciaries; providing networking and mentorship opportunities for tribal judiciaries; and improving cooperation between tribal, state, and federal judiciaries.
The NCJFCJ, established in 1937, is a non-profit corporation with a primary focus on improving juvenile and family court system practice in the handling of cases involving children, families, and victims of domestic violence. As one of the oldest judicial membership organizations in the nation, the NCJFCJ is unique as a leader in providing continuing education, technical assistance, research, and policy development in the field of juvenile and family justice. Among the myriad current NCJFCJ initiatives, several align closely with NAICJA’s projects and goals and hold promise for potential application and implementation in Indian Country, including: a national network of more than 100 juvenile and family courts that develop and test promising practice; the Juvenile Drug Court Training and Technical Assistance Project; the Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody; and the Family Court Enhancement Project.
Beginning on June 1, 2016, new or renewing members of the NAICJA interested in joint membership will pay a $215 fee directly to NAICJA (existing NAICJA members should contact NAICJA directly for details on upgrading to a joint membership).
NAICJA is excited to join forces with the NCJFCJ as the two organizations work to strengthen the functions and collaborative opportunities of state and tribal court systems, especially as they pertain to juvenile and family courts. NAICJA encourages its members to take advantage of the joint membership opportunity and the incredible resources available from the NCJFCJ.
Contact Information:
Justice Richard Blake
President, Board of Directors
National American Indian Court Judges Association
Email: president@naicja.org
BPhone: (303) 449-4112
Judge Agrees to Sanctions in Oglala Sioux v. Van Hunnik
Materials in re Oglala Sioux Tribe et. al. v. Van Hunnik et. al. (D. S.D.):
Doc 114 – Plaintiffs’ Motion For Sanctions
Doc 237 – Plaintiffs’ Stipulation to Dismiss Motion for Sanctions
Doc 238 – Order Granting Relief
Link to previous case postings here.
2016 NNALSA Moot Court Request for Judges
County Court Awards $109 Million Against Tribal Member
Link to Journal Entry of Judgment by Default in the matter of Whitebird v. McKinney (12/11/2015) here.
Link to Topeka Capital-Journal coverage here.
Excerpts from judgment:
Exhibit 4 which represents information published in the Kansas Register authorizing the daily rate for Kansas Neurological Institution in Topeka, Kansas. KNI is a residential health care facility for profoundly disabled individuals. Exhibit 4 also represents an estimate of projected future cost of care in an institution similar to KNI in Topeka, Kansas, to the age of 68 that totals $104,160,411.68.
Exhibit 5 is a medical cost projection for severely disabled individuals through the age of 77 that totals $5,020,246.00. This projection does not include cost of full-time attendant care that Romeo Whitebird will need the rest of his life.
Plaintiffs don’t believe they will recover the full award, but the judgment secures any future earnings from income or oil royalties from the Three Affiliated Tribes member who is serving nine years for abusing the, then, seven-month-old.
NAICJA Board of Directors Unanimously Support AG and ILOC Reports
Resolution No. 2015-01
Resolution No. 2015-02
The National American Indian Court Judges Association are supporting the Indian Law and Order Commission’s November 2013 report entitled “A Roadmap for Making Native America Safer,” which “advocates for tribal justice systems to have the ability to fully express their sovereignty by opting out of the current jurisdictional maze, and exercise criminal jurisdiction over all persons without any sentencing limitations, including juveniles.” However, NAICJA prefers that all individuals charged with crimes under this enhanced tribal jurisdiction be provided with civil rights protections equivalent to those guaranteed by the Indian Civil Rights Act, instead of the U.S. Constitution.
NAICJA is also supporting the November 2014 report from the Attorney General’s advisory committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence entitled “Ending Violence So Children Can Thrive” which “calls for the restoration of the inherent sovereignty of tribes to assert full criminal jurisdiction over all persons who commit crimes against AI/AN children in Indian country.”
Turtle Talk 
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