Cheyenne and Arapaho Trial Court receives positive assessment from Hammons Law Group

Rosemary Stephens, Editor-in-Chief (CONCHO, OK) Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Judicial Branch of Government receives favorable court assessment from the Hammons Law Group. The assessment was prepared by A. Diane Hammons, Trevor Hammons and Kimee-Wind Hummingbird.

“I am very pleased with the assessment outcomes. We will continue to navigate and implement measures to assure that the Judicial Branch, Tribal Justice Center is run thoroughly, ethically and justly,” Charlotte Wetselline, Trial Court administrator said.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana had requested the assessment be performed. The last court assessment was completed in February 2019.

“This assessment is conducted upon request. The request was made by Gov. Reggie Wassana March 14, 2022. It is beneficial to have a completed assessment done every three to four years,” Wetselline said.

Hammons Law conducted on-site assessments August 2022. The 60-page report (See Special Publication insert to view full report.) provided summaries of the court’s strengths, recommendations for improvements and services offered by the Tribal Court. Interviews were conducted using the Trial Court Performance Standards.

In 1993 Congress enacted the Indian Tribal Justice Act and created within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Justice Services, the Tribal Justice Support Directorate (TJS) to “further the development, operation and enhancement of tribal justice systems …” TJS must, through independent non-federal entities, conduct a survey of conditions of tribal justice systems to determine the resources and funding, including base support funding, needed to provide the expeditious and effective administration of justice.

The assessment must document the location conditions of each tribe including, the geographic area and population served, the levels of functioning and capacity of the tribal justice system, the volume ad complexity of the caseloads, the facilities, including detention facilities and program resources available, funding levels and personnel staffing requirements for the tribal justice system and the training and technical assistance needs of the tribal justice system.

The assessment focused on five distinct areas: 1) Access to Justice, 2) Expedition and Timeliness 3) Equality, Fairness and Integrity, 4) Independence and Accountability, and 5) Specific Findings and needs of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Trial Court. The assessment also provides a ‘Summary of Recommendations and Strategic Plan,’ including suggestions regarding where the Tribe can pursue funding or other support to accomplish each recommendation.

According to the report, five positive attributes were found under the heading ‘Access to Justice,’ with one area identified as needing improvement … “Tribal Court users do not currently have easy access, such as internet access, to Tribal Codes, the Constitution or Court Rules.”