Southwest Cross-Jurisdictional Webinar Series


This is a virtual conference held in a series of five Zoom webinars that include panelist and attendee discussion of topics of concern to state and tribal communities. 

The goal is to promote collaboration, exchange of ideas, and inspiration across state, tribal, and federal jurisdictions.  Judges and other persons who have been engaged in cross-jurisdictional cooperation through a court forum, consortium or other means from the following states are encouraged to participate: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

 

Panel 1: Cross-Jurisdictional Cooperation & Collaboration


    November 13, 2020 1:30pm (MST)

    Panelist Speakers:

    • Hon. Anne McKeig, Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
    • Hon. Lawrence King, Chief Judge, Colorado River Indian Tribal Court (Arizona)
    • Hon. Christine Williams, Chief Judge, Wilton Rancheria Tribal Court (California)
    • Hon. Patricia Lenzi, Chief Judge, Cedarville Rancheria Tribal Court (Nevada)
    • Hon. Randy Collins, Chief Judge, Acoma Pueblo Tribal Court (New Mexico)
    • Chief Counsel David Withey, Administrative Office of the Courts (Arizona)

     

    Areas of Discussion:

    • Recognition of judgments - full faith and credit / comity
    • Joint Jurisdiction courts
    • Interstate/intertribal compacts
    • Uniform Laws Commission – application to tribal members

    Description: Panelists from multiple states will discuss the need for cross-jurisdictional cooperation and collaboration that has motivated use of innovative options in their experience and consideration of future possibilities.

Materials & Links:
California: Tribal-Forum Factsheet.pdf & Tribal Principles & Values.pdf
Nevada: Nevada Courts – Tribal and State.pptx
New Mexico: New Mexico list.docx
Arizona: AZ Brief.docx & Reaching for the Summit Pyramid.docx
11/13/2020 Zoom Webinar Video Recording: Zoom Webinar 11/13/2020
Download the Certificate of Attendance: Certificate of Attendance Panel 1
 

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Panel 2: Juvenile Dependency


December 4, 2020 1:30pm (MST)


Panelist Speakers:  

  • Hon. Robert Brutinel, Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court
  • Sheldon Spotted Elk, Casey Family Programs (Colorado)
  • Hon. William Thorne, retired, Court of Appeals (Utah)
  • Hon. Scott McDonald, Pima County ICWA Court (Arizona)
  • Special Master, Catherine Begaye, ICWA Court (New Mexico)
  • Comm. Steff R. Padilla, California Superior Court
  • Tamara Walters, Tribal AAG, Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona)
  • Verna Johnson, Project Manager, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona


Areas of Discussion:

  • ICWA courts
  • Customary Adoption

Description: Panelists will discuss the challenges of child protection, family reunification and tribal connection   across state and tribal jurisdictions and the use of ICWA courts and customary adoptions  to achieve these goals. 

Materials & Links:

http://www.ncjj.org/AFCARS/Disproportionality_Dashboard.aspx
ICWA Court Data Elements - 120420.ppt
ICWA Courts Overview.pdf
ICWA Baseline Measures Report Final.pdf
California WIC 306.6 code section
12/4/2020 Zoom Webinar Video Recording: 12-4-2020 Webinar Video 

Download the Certificate of Attendance: Certificate of Attendance Panel 2.doc

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Panel 3: Tribal Jurisdiction

January 8, 2021 1:30pm (MST)

 

Panelist Speakers:   

  • Hon. Ramona Gonzalez, La Crosse County Circuit Court, (Wisconsin) and immediate past president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)
  • Hon. Lawrence King, Chief Judge, Colorado River Indian Tribal Court (Arizona)
  • Hon. Frank Demolli, Chief Judge, Santa Clara Pueblo Tribal Court (New Mexico)
  • Merri Lopez-Keifer, Director, Office of Native American Affairs, Office of Attorney General, California Dept. of Justice
  • Sue Fahami, Chief Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Dept. of Justice (Nevada)
  • Alexander W. Samuels, Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Dept. of Justice (Arizona)
  • Oscar J. “O.J.” Flores, Chief Prosecutor, Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona)

 

Areas of Discussion:

  •     Missing and murdered indigenous women  
  •     Special DV Criminal Jurisdiction 
  •     Orders of Protection: Court and law enforcement 
  •     Human Trafficking 
  •     Sex offender registration 

Description: 

Panelists will focus on the response of federal authorities to missing and murdered indigenous women in tribal jurisdictions and communities and what cooperation with tribal and state authorities is occurring and is needed. The listed sub-topics will be addressed in relation to this primary focus.

Materials & Links:
Judge Demolli's Handout: PLA Amendment of 2005
Zoom Recording: Tribal Jurisdiction Zoom Webinar Recording
Download the Certificate of Attendance: Certificate of Attendance Panel 3

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Panel 4: State Jurisdiction

January 22, 2021 1:30pm (MST)

Panelist Speakers:   

  • Hon. Barbara Vigil, Senior Justice, New Mexico Supreme Court
  • David Withey, Chief Counsel, Arizona Supreme Court
  • Shanda Breed, Adult Services Division Program Manager
  • Dori Littler, Arizona Interstate Compact Commissioner
  • Ann Gilmour, Judicial Council of California
  • Sheina Yellowhair, Tribal Liaison, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona

Areas of Discussion:

  •     Guardianships
  •     Involuntary Commitment 
  •     Probation supervision collaboration
  •     Interstate compact placement
  •     State recognition of treatment services

Description: Panelists will share their successes and challenges in addressing the listed matters within state jurisdiction in cooperation with tribal authorities. 

Materials & Links: 

Arizona Rules of Procedure for the Recognition of Trial Court Civil Judgments
A.R.S. 12-136 Tribal Courts; Involuntary Commitment; recognition
Arizona Rules of Procedure for Enforcement of Tribal Involuntary Commitment Orders
California Interstate Jurisdiction, Transfer, and Recognition
AZ Services (Cenpatico)   Tribal Inv. Comm. Diagram  Tribal Inv. Comm. Process
Reaching for the Summit Pyramid Powerpoint
Four Corners Summit Powerpoint

Zoom Recording: State Jurisdiction Webinar Video 
Download the Certificate of Attendance: Certificate of Attendance Panel4

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Panel 5: Juvenile Delinquency

February 5, 2021 1:30pm (MST)

Panelist Speakers:   

  • Hon. Abby Abinanti, Chief Judge, Yurok Tribal Court and Co-Chair of Tribal Court – State Court Forum (California)
  • Hon. Lawrence King, Chair of the State, Tribal and Federal Court Forum (Arizona) and member of the Tribal Court – State Court Forum (California)
  • Hon. Devon Lee Lomayesva, Chief Judge, Intertribal Court of Southern California
  • Hon. Richard C. Blake, President of the National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA), Chief Judge for Redding Rancheria and Juvenile Healing to Wellness Judge for Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation Tribal Court. (California)
  • Hon. Gary E. LaRance, Judge for the Healing to Wellness Court (Nevada) and Chief Prosecutor for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada/California
  • Hon. John J. Romero, Jr., (retired) past president of National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) 
  • Hon. Verna Teller, Chief Judge, Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Court (New Mexico) and Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI)
  • Joe Kelroy, Juvenile Justice Services Division Director (Arizona)

Areas of Discussion:

  •     Notice to tribes in delinquency cases
  •     Detention alternatives 
  •     Tribal diversion alternatives 
  •     Use of tribal/traditional treatment services

Description: Panelists will discuss tribal, state, and federal efforts to address the risks and needs of tribal youth in their respective jurisdictions and in cooperation across jurisdictions. 

Materials & Links:

Arizona Juvenile Justice Services PowerPoint
Zoom Recording: 2-05-2021 Juvenile Dependency Video
Download the Certificate of Attendance: Certificate of Attendance Panel 5