Tribal Court

Ka’illjuus

Lisa Lang Chief Justice Elected October 1, 2020

Jaagal Aat

Michelle Demmert Chief Justice January - April 2020

“Exercising our inherent tribal sovereignty for the benefit, health and wellbeing of our tribal citizens."

The Tribal Court was established by Articles VII, XI of the Tribe’s Constitution as a separate branch of government to exercise the Tribe’s inherent sovereignty and provide a culturallyappropriate forum for tribal citizens to address their judicial needs.

The Executive Council, Judiciary Committee, elected Justices and Tribal Court staff continue to work toward expanding and sustaining the Tribal Court’s judicial services. The Tribal Court is available for and has subject matter jurisdiction over: ƒ Adoptions ƒ Child Support ƒ Child Custody ƒ Child Welfare ƒ Divorce ƒ Domestic Violence ƒ Guardianships ƒ Marriage ƒ Paternity

The Tribal Court’s judicial services are guided by the traditional values of respect, patience, and the essential responsibility to safeguard the future of the Tribe by promoting healthy tribal families. The Tribal Court resolves matters by taking evidence and rendering both written and oral decisions. Each final decision of the Trial Court comes with right of appeal to the Tlingit & Haida’s Supreme Court which is composed of three elected Justices. Beyond dispute resolution and problem solving, the Tribal Court provides technical assistance to Alaska tribes in building tribal court capacity and is currently developing various alternatives for dispute resolution and restorative justice models that can be utilized by Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Court in Juneau and shared with Tribal Courts throughout Southeast and Alaska. The Tribal Court’s top priority for 2020 was employee recruitment and the continued development of the Tribal Justice Systems through Victims Services planning and organization of the Tribe’s Wellness Courts for families affected by the opioid and substance misuse crisis. The Tribal Court met or exceeded most of its 2020 goals.

2020 Highlights

ƒ Planned and implemented COVID-19 emergency protocols and work-from-home plan with continual increase in cases filed and hearings held at the Trial Court level. ƒ Established multi-disciplinary team to aid in development of the Tribe’s Wellness

Courts. ƒ Partnered with the Tribal Family & Youth Services department and tribal citizens Lyle and Kolene James to facilitate virtual Elders Talking Circles. ƒ Partnered with the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center and Alaska Native Justice

Center to host a 13-week Domestic Violence Advocacy series virtually. ƒ Awarded a three-year Department of Justice grant to increase staffing and address other related needs for Tlingit & Haida’s Victims of Crime offices in Southeast Alaska (Juneau and Prince of Wales Island). ƒ Provided administrative staff support to the Judiciary Committee and Violence

Against Women Task Force. ƒ Participated in planning meeting to address the future space needs of the Tribal

Court and its programming.

2020 Highlights (Cont.)

ƒ Participated and presented at several local, state and national events, meetings, trainings, conferences and consultations throughout the year. ƒ Established a Family Court Services team to provide home studies and emergency clinical support to families involved in court cases and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.

2021 Goals

ƒ Begin serving tribal youth age 14-18 through the Youth Healing to Wellness Court and

Wellbriety Initiative. ƒ Increase Family Court services which were established in 2020. ƒ Continue to provide technical assistance to Southeast Alaska tribes and communities to develop individual, inter-tribal and regional court systems in Southeast Alaska, including an appeals court. ƒ Provide services to tribal citizens through the Victims of Crime office which is an advocacy program funded by VOCA to increase legal, medical, physical, emotional and housing support throughout Southeast Alaska Native communities. ƒ Continue to build tribal court capacity by strengthening current programs and services and researching ways to expand judicial services to include housing, landlord-tenant, elder abuse, conservatorship for youth and vulnerable adults, and probate.

Kinduàan

Frances Andrews Court Administrator

Associate Justices

Aurora Lehr (2019-2021)

Cheryl DemmertFairbanks (2020-2021)

Judiciary Committee

DonnaRae James (Chair) Patricia Alexander Carrie Dodson James Hart Tasha Hotch William Martin Eva Rowan

Enterprise Reports