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National American Indian Court Judges Association
Membership
Click here to join now!
Why Should a Tribal Judge join NAICJA?
NAICJA is your organization. No other organization is specifically dedicated to the issues and interests of Tribal Justice Systems and Tribal Court Judges. Items of interest, policy, and law updates and changes, and proposed events having to do with Tribal justice systems are all part of what NAICJA does.
NAICJA develops Indian Policy regarding Tribal Justice systems. Perhaps the most important thing NAICJA does, is be there when a Senator's office or an Administration official has an idea or needs advice about Tribal Justice Systems. Federal law and policy changes for Tribal Courts flow through NAICJA and benefit from NAICJA comment.
NAICJA is an information resource. When a interested individual or member of the general public calls, faxes, or e-mails with questions about Tribal Courts, they call NAICJA. Indian Country is fighting a public relations battle over the perception of Indian matters. We can win this battle, as far as Tribal Courts are concerned, by being there when questions arise.
NAICJA testifies and works with congress every year on funding benefiting Tribal Courts in the annual Federal Budget. The Federal Budget process funds Tribal Courts, the Indian Tribal Justice Act, the Indian Country Law Enforcement Initiative, the Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal assistance act of 2000 and other federal laws benefiting Tribal Justice systems. Each year, NAICJA is there to provide funding recommendations and information in the form of testimony to Congressional Budget Committees.
NAICJA works to pass pro-Tribal Court legislation. Three years ago the Indian Tribal Justice Act needed reauthorization. NAICJA was there to step in and do the heavy lifting needed to reauthorize the Act for Indian Country. Other proposed legislation, now or in the future, (including the Sovereignty protection initiative) will benefit from the participation of NAICJA.
NAICJA coordinates the Indian Country Supreme Court Project. Everyone knows there is a problem with the US Supreme Court and it's recent decisions regarding Indian Country. NAICJA is doing something proactive about it. In the summer of 2001, Indian Country, with a grant developed by NAICJA, took Supreme Court Justices O'Conner and Breyer on a tour of Tribal Courts. The justices saw Tribal Courts and Tribal Judicial training in action. More visits are planned in the future with the hope that a first hand veiw of the competency of Tribal Courts will help the Supreme Court with a better view of Tribal Sovereignty.
NAICJA operates programs that benefit Tribal Courts. The National Tribal Justice Resource Center, which provides assistance to thousands of Tribes, Tribal Courts and Tribal Court Judges each year, is a NAICJA program. The NAICJA Violence Against Women's Act Project is completing development of a model domestic violence code which will be made available to all of Indian Country. NAICJA operates grant projects which benefit Tribal Justice Systems.
NAICJA conducts and Annual Conference for benefit of NAICJA membership. What are the pressing issues for Tribal Justice Systems? What sort of training is needed? Who has information that would benefit Tribal Judges? Where can Tribal Judges go and meet with other Tribal Judges on matters important to Tribal Courts? These are questions responded to at the NAICJA Annual Conference. Often from isolated areas, Tribal Judges have their time to compare and update notes and strategies for improving their Tribal Court Systems.
NAICJA conducts seminars. Sometimes, the important issues of the day can't wait for the next Conference. Some information needs to get into the hands and heads of Tribal Judges right away. In such cases, NAICJA offers low cost or no cost Seminars for Tribal Court Personnel. NAICJA recently conducted a seminar on the Sovereignty Protection Initiative which rated 90% positive responses from attendees. An added benefit, NAICJA does not limit seminars to only NAICJA members. Information important to Tribal Justice Systems should not be exclusively doled out.
NAICJA provides information to Judges and Court Personnel throughout the year. The NTJRC newsletter contains news beneficial to Tribal Justice Systems and is published quarterly. The NAICJA News is an e-mail alert systems which communicates news and information to Tribal Judges and Court Personnel as it becomes available.
Other benefits from joining:
- NAICJA membership card and Membership Certificate
- NAICJA T-Shirt
- NAICJA e-mail address
- Webspace for your tribal court on the NAICJA server
- FREE online training programs and a copy of the NAICJA/NTJRC publications
- Quarterly NTJRC/NAICJA Newsletter
- Members only area on the NAICJA website
Click here to join now!
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