National
American Indian Court Judges Association
Held it’s 35th Annual Conference in Palm Springs
The National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) held its 35th Annual Meeting and Judicial Conference in Palm Springs, California on October 24-27, 2004. The conference was held at the Palm Springs Hilton. *
The theme of the 2004 conference was, "Navigating Tribal Jurisdiction through Self-Determination & Sovereignty."
“We
were very serious about the theme,” said White-Fish.
“Nationwide, Tribal Court’s are the focus of everyone’s
attention and at the forefront of Indian Country’s agenda.
Tribes and tribal sovereignty are under attack from non-Indian
Federal courts. Some have even claimed we are in a period of ‘Judicial
Termination.’ NAICJA felt a strong obligation to address
these problems.”
The Conference was aimed at Tribal Judges, Tribal Prosecutors and Attorneys/Lay Advocates who practice in Tribal Courts, as well as Court Clerks and other Court personnel, Tribal leaders and tribal legislators. There will be numerous presentations on a variety of topics, including Sovereignty Protection, Criminal Jurisdiction, current case law updates, tribal court resources, non-Indians in Indian Country, Banishment, Child Support Enforcement and ICWA. Also, NAICJA addressed issues affecting Alaska and Public Law 280. NAICJA held its Annual Membership Meeting and luncheon during the Conference.
“We’re
all part of the solution to issues effecting Tribal Courts,”
said White-Fish. “We might as well begin by working together
to realize those solutions.”
The
National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) is the
largest organization representing Tribal Judges and Tribal Courts.
NAICJA was incorporated in 1969, making it one of the oldest Indian
organizations in existence. NAICJA has member Judges from Tribes
throughout the United States. The mission of NAICJA is to strengthen
and enhance all Tribal justice systems through improvement and development
of Tribal Courts and Tribal Court Judges.
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