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Court of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Court Administrator, Lucille Morrison
Director of Judicial Services, Wendy Morrison
12907 Palmquist Road, P.O. Box 16
Nett Lake, Minnesota, 55772
Tel: (218) 757-3462
Fax: (218) 757-0064
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa web site: www.boisforte.com
Bois
Forte's Court was formed in 1974. As a consequence of the
retrocession of criminal jurisdiction in 1975 and the assumption of
full civil jurisdiction, the Court exercises both
misdemeanor criminal jurisdiction and general civil jurisdiction. There
is one judge sitting on the trial court (Hon. Margaret "Peggy" Treuer)
and she is law-trained. Matters before the trial Court are heard in
Nett Lake, Minnesota. Appeals of civil matters from the Bois Forte Court
are taken to the Court of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, which conducts
most of its hearings at a location convenient to both the court and
the parties.
Getting Admitted
Attorneys must present
a certificate of good standing from a state in which the attorney is
licensed and pay a one-time admission fee of $100.00 (waived for Band
members). Attorneys must certify that they will abide by the rules of the
Court and the laws of the Band, as well as state their willingness to
provide pro bono representation of indigent Band members. Pro se
litigants, paralegals, and lay advocates may practice before the Court.
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Court of the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa
Court Administrator, Dorothy Leifeste
1720 Big Lake Road
Cloquet, Minnesota, 55270
Tel: (218) 878-2676
Fax: (218) 878-2684
Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa web site: www.fdlrez.com
Fond du Lac's
Court exercises general civil jurisdiction and serves as the conservation
court for the Band as well. There is currently one judge (Hon. Kurt
BlueDog) on the trial court and he is law-trained. Matters before the
Fond du Lac Court are heard in Cloquet, Minnesota. Appeals from the trial
court are taken to the Fond du Lac Court of Appeals,which is comprised
of a three-judge panel. The Court of Appeals positions have not yet been
filled.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
may appear before the Court provided they demonstrate familiarity with
the principles of Indian law and conduct themselves in a manner
consistent with the ethical standards and rules of decorum of the Fond du
Lac court. Attorneys who are admitted and in good standing of the highest
court of any state or of the District of Columbia are deemed admitted to
the Court. There is no admission fee and admissionis considered
perpetual provided the attorney remains bar admitted and in good standing. Top
Court of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
Court Administrator, Candace Ducheneaux
is HCR 3, P.O. Box 89, Gettysburg, SD 57442
Tel: 605-200-1066 or 605-733-2148
Fax: (605) 964-7299
Grand Portage Band of Chippewa web site: www.grandportage.com
Click Here to Download The Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Judicial Code (PDF format)
Grand Portage's Court
exercises general civil jurisdiction, with the exception of family law
matters. There are currently four Grand Portage judges, all of whom are
law-trained: Chief Judge Rochelle Ducheneaux, Deputy Judge Christopher
Anderson, Associate Judge Mary Al Balber, and Associate Judge Frank
Pommersheim. The Court Code permits the appointment of deputy judges to
serve in the event of a judge's disqualification or recusal. Matters
before the Grand Portage Court are heard in Grand Portage, Minnesota.
Appeals from the trial court are taken to the Grand Portage Court of
Appeals, which is comprised of the three judges who did not hear the
matter at the trial level.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
may appear before the Court. Attorneys must submit an affidavit stating
that he or she is licensed to practice law before the highest court of
any state and that the applicant has studied and is familiar with the
Constitution and By-laws of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, the Ordinances
of the Band, the Band's Judicial Code, Title 25of the United States Code
and Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Attorneys also must
submit a $100.00 application fee and take an oath specified in the Code.
Bar admission is valid for one year, and Bar members must submit an
annual renewal fee of $100.00.
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Court of the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa
Court Administrator, Patricia Pizzala
Court Services Coordinator, Betsy Allen
115 Sixth Street NW, Suite 6
Cass Lake, Minnesota, 56633
Tel: (218) 335-3682
Fax: (218) 335-3685
Leech Lake's Court
recently has general civil jurisdiction, including jurisdiction over
certain traffic matters arising on the Leech Lake Reservation and child
welfare matters. Two judges (Chief Judge Korey Wahwassuck and Associate
Judge Anita Fineday) currently serve on the Leech Lake Court, and both
are law-trained. The Court code permits the appointment of up to three
judges. Matters before the Leech Lake Court are heard at Cass Lake,
Minnesota. Appeals from the trial court are taken to the Leech Lake Court
of Appeals, which is comprised of a three-judge panel of judges not
sitting at the trial court level and, in the event of disqualification or
recusal, the panel may be completedby the appointment of deputy justices.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
may appear before the Court. Each attorney must submit an affidavit
stating that he or she is licensed to practice law before the highest
court of any state and that the applicant has studied and is familiar
with the Constitution and By-laws of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, the
Bylaws and Ordinances of the Leech Lake Band, the Band's Judicial Code,
Title 25 of the United States Code, and Title 25 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. Attorneys also must submit a $100.00 application fee and
take an oath specified in the Code. Bar admissionis valid for one year,
and Bar members must submit an annual renewalfee of $100.00.
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Court of the Lower Sioux Community in Minnesota.
Clerk of Court, Rita Tellinghuisen
Chief Judge, BJ Jones
P.O. Box 308, Morton, MN 56270.
Tel: (507) 697-6185
Fax: (952) 893-0650
The Court of
the Lower Sioux Community was created in 1993, and it has general civil
jurisdiction. The Court code also provides that final judgments for money
damages from state and federal courts will be granted full faith and
credit. Four judges (Hon. Kurt BlueDog, Hon.Andrew Small, Hon. Steven
Olson and Hon. Susan Allen) serve on the trial court, all of whom are
law-trained. Matters before the Lower Sioux Court are heard at the Lower
Sioux Community Center near Morton, Minnesota. Appeals from the trial
court are taken to the Lower Sioux Community Court of Appeals, which is
comprised of a three-judge panel of trial court judges who were not
assigned to the trial court case.
Click here to download the Lower Sioux Judical Code (PDF)
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
may appear before the Court. Each attorney must submit an affidavit
stating that he or she is licensed to practice law before the highest
court of any state and that the applicant has studied and is familiar
with the Constitution and By-laws of the Community, theTribal Court
Code, all other ordinances of the Tribe, Title 25 of theUnited States
Code and Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations.Attorney salso must
submit a $100.00 application fee and take an oath specified in the Code.
Bar admission is considered perpetual provided the bar member continues
to comply with the requirements for admission.
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Court of the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa
Tribal Court Judge
43408 Oodena Drive
Onamia, MN 56359
Tel: (320) 532-7400
Fax: (320) 532-3153
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe web site: www.millelacsojibwe.org
For Mille Lacs Band Statutes Annotated, visit www.millelacsojibwe.org/statutes.asp.
The Mille Lacs
Band's Court began functioning in the early 1980's, and now has criminal
jurisdiction over Indians, and broad civil jurisdiction. The Court of
Central Jurisdiction (the trial court) has a civil case load
ofapproximately 700 cases annually, and a relatively
light criminal caseload. The Code adopted by the Mille Lacs Band provides
for full faith and credit to state court judgments if there is
reciprocity for Band Court judgments from the state courts. One Judge
(Hon. Paul Day) serves on the Court of Central Jurisdiction, and he
is law-trained. The Court of Central Jurisdiction rides a circuit.
Appeals from that Court are taken to the Mille Lacs Court of Appeals and
are heard by a three-judge panel. The appellate judges are Chief
Judge Alvina Aubele and Associate Judge Clarence Boyd.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
who are Band members, are 21 years old and high school graduates, and
non-Band member Indians who have resided on the Mille Lacs Reservation,
and law students with proper attorney supervision may appear before the
Mille Lacs Court of Central Jurisdiction. Pro se litigants may appear
before the Court without becoming members of the Mille Lacs Band Bar
Association. Attorneys must submit an application indicating that he or
she is licensed to practice before any state court, federal court, or
federally recognized Indian tribe's court and is in good standing with
those bar associations. Attorneys also must submit an initial $75.00
admission fee, and, to maintain membership thereafter, $30.00 per year.
There is no fee for lay advocates, law students, or attorneys
representing pro bono clients.
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Court of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
Court Administrator Mark Anderson
P.O. Box 217 Cass Lake, Minnesota, 56633
Tel: (218) 335-8581
Fax: (218) 335-8496
The Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe is the federation of six of the seven Chippewa tribes in Minnesota:
Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and White
Earth. Under the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Constitution, a Court of
Appeals has been formed, which can hear appeals from conservation cases
and election appeals from the Courts of the six Bands. Whether the Court
now has jurisdiction over any particular appeal depends on a grant of
jurisdiction from either the Tribal Executive Committee of the Minnesota
Chippewa Tribe or a specific Band. The Court handles 4-5 cases per year.
One Chief Judge (Hon. Chris Anderson) and Associate Judges Elizabeth
Washburn and Leif Rasmussen serve on theCourt, and they are law-trained.
Other judges are appointed by the Bands or, in extraordinary
circumstances, by the Chief Judge. Matters before the Court are heard
where convenient for the court and the parties. There is no further
appeal available from a decision of the Court of the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
may appear before the Court. The Court does not require litigants or
attorneys to apply for admission to practice before it.
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Court of the Prairie Island Indian Community
Court Administrator, Kyle Cromer
Clerk of Court, Wayne Wells
5636 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089
Tel: (651) 385-4161
Fax: (651) 385-4160
Prairie Island Indian Community web site: www.prairieisland.org
Click Here to go to Prairie Island Tribal Court web site
Click Here to Download The Prairie Island Judicial Code (PDF format)
The Prairie Island
Court was created in 1994, and it has broad civil jurisdiction. It has a
heavy children's court docket, and a relatively light civillitigation
docket. The Chief Judge of the Tribal Court is the Honorable B.J. Jones,
who is law-trained. Matters before the Prairie Island Court are heard at
the Community Courtroom in Welch, Minnesota. Appeals from the trial court
are taken to Prairie Island Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals has a
panel of five law-trained justices: Chief Justice Mary Jo Brooks Hunter
and Justices Dennis Peterson and Scott
Taylor. Appeals are heard by a three-justice panel, with an opportunity
for rehearing en banc. The Prairie Island Court Code has a full faith and
credit provision; the Tribal Court has received cases that have been
transferred from the County Court systems and in certain cases has
enforced wage garnishments that have come from County Courts.
Getting Admitted
Pro se
litigants and Community member lay advocates may appear before
the Prairie Island Court. Attorneys must file an affidavit stating the
he or she is licensed to practice before the highest court of any
state, has studied and is familiar with the Constitution and By-laws of
the Community, the Court Code, all other ordinances of the Community,
Title 25 of the United States Code and Title 25 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. Attorneys also must submit an annual $100.00 license
fee and take an oath specified in the Code.
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Court of the Red Lake Nation of Chippewa
Clerk of Court, Pam Needham
Court Administrator, Misty Charnoski
P.O. Box 572 Red Lake, Minnesota, 56671
Tel: (218) 679-3303
Fax: (218) 679-2683
Red Lake Nation Web Site: www.redlakenation.org
The Court of
the Red Lake Nation of Chippewa has misdemeanor
criminal jurisdiction over Indians and broad civil jurisdiction. Four
judges serve on thetrial court. Acting Chief Judge Dan Carnoski serves
with Verna Graves, and Al Thunder. Matters
before the Red Lake Court are heard in Red Lake, Minnesota. Appeals from
the trial court are taken to the Court of Appeals of the Red Lake
Nation, which is comprised of a three-judge panel of trial court judges
who were not assigned to the trial court proceedings.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
and tribally licensed lay advocates may appear before the Court if they
are at least 21 years old, of good moral character, have no felony
record, and demonstrate familiarity with tribal law and customs, the
Court's rules and the Chippewa language. Attorneys may appear before the
Court provided they secure a business license from the Red Lake Tribal
Council. All applicants to appear before the Court must submit an annual
$250.00 admission fee.
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Court of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community
Clerk of Court, Lynn K. MacDonald
335 Atrium Bldg.
1295 Bandana Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Court Bldg. Location
2330 Sioux Trail
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Tel: (651) 644-4710
Fax: (651) 644-5904
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community Web Site: www.ccsmdc.org
Click Here to Download The Shakopee Mdewakanton Rules of Civil Procedure (PDF format)
Click Here to Download The Shakopee Mdewakanton Motions Practice Document (PDF format)
The Court of
the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community was established
in1988. It now has broad civil jurisdiction, including jurisdiction
to review administrative decisions as provided by Community
ordinances. Three judges (Hon. John Jacobson, Hon. Henry Buffalo, Hon. Vanya Hogen) sit on the trial court, all of whom are
law-trained. Matters before the Shakopee Court are heard atthe Community
Courtroom near Prior Lake, Minnesota. Appeals from the trial court are
heard by the Court of Appeals of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota)
Community, which is comprised of a two-judge panel of trial court judges
who were not assigned to the trial court proceeding. The Court publishes
its opinions and a digest, which are available in Twin Cities law
libraries and at the clerk's office.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
are permitted to practice before the court. Attorneys must move the Court
for admission, which motion must state that the movant is admitted to
practice and in good standing in any state or theDistrict of Columbia.
The applicant must also pay a one-time $100.00 license fee. Admission is
valid for as long as the movant continues to satisfy the admission
requirements.
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Upper Sioux Indian Community Tribal Court
Court Administrator & Clerk of Court, Cindy Samora
P.O. Box 155
Granite Falls, Minnesota, 56241
Tel: (320) 564-6317
Fax: (320) 564-4915
Upper Sioux Community Web Site: www.uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov
Click Here to Download The Upper Sioux Judicial Code (PDF format)
The Upper Sioux
Court was created in 1994. It exercises general civil jurisdiction, and
the Upper Sioux Court Code contemplates granting full faith and credit to
state court orders, if there is reciprocity from those Courts. One judge
(Hon. Peggy Treuer) sits on the trial court, and she is law-trained.
Matters before the Upper Sioux Court are heard at Granite Falls,
Minnesota. Appeals from the trial court are taken to the Upper Sioux
Court of Appeals, which is composed one judge, unless a three-judge panel
is requested within thirty days of the final order of the trial court.
Getting Admitted
Non-attorney tribal advocates
may appear before the Court. Lay advocates must have a high school
degree, must not have a felony record, and must be able to demonstrate
familiarity with Community law and Indian law principles. Each attorney
and lay advocate must submit a completed application stating that he or
she is familiar with the Community's law and Title25 of the United
States Code. Attorney applicants also must be admittedto the highest
court of any state. Each application must be accompanied by an affidavit
certifying the information contained in the application. The applicant
must also submit an annual $80.00 license fee.
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Court of the White Earth Band of Chippewa
Court Administrator, Lori Thompson
P.O. Box 418
White Earth, Minnesota, 56591
Tel: (218) 983-3285
Fax: (218) 983-3294
White Earth Tribal Court web site: www.whiteearthtribalcourt.com
Click Here to Download The White Earth Civil Procedure Document (PDF format)
The White Earth
Court was established in 1978. The Court exercises
general civil jurisdiction including jurisdiction over the Band's motor
vehicle code, child welfare, and housing. Three judges (Hon. Anita
Fineday, Hon. Amber Ahola, and Hon. Michelle Paquin) serve on the trial
court and they are all law-trained. The Court Code provides for
the appointment of two additional associate judges. Appeals from the
trial court are taken to the White Earth Court of Appeals and are heard
by a two-judge panel of trial judges who were not assigned to the
trial court case.
Getting Admitted
Pro se litigants
and Band member lay advocates may appear before the Court.Attorneys must
submit a completed application stating that he or she is admitted to the
highest court of any state and must also submit an annual $100.00 license
fee.
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