National American Indian Court Judges Association Presents:
"Enhancing Governance Through Tribal Justice Systems"
October 5 - October 8, 2003
Chateau Sonesta Hotel
New Orleans, LA

Draft Agenda

Sunday, October 5, 2003

9:00 AM- 1:00 PM Registration

10:00 AM-12:00 PM Complimentary Brunch – Networking

12:00 PM Board of Directors Meeting (NAICJA)

4:00-7:00 PM Registration

5:00-7:00 PM Welcome Reception

Monday, October 6, 2003

8:00 AM Registration Continues

9:00 AM Opening Ceremony
Welcome: Conference Chairperson, Justice Rae Nell Vaughn
Call to Order: NAICJA President Eugene White-Fish
Introduction of NAICJA Board Members

10:00 AM Keynote: Tex Hall, NCAI President (Invited)
Keynote: Chairman Phillip Martin, Mississippi Band of Choctaw

10:30 AM Break

10:45 AM Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Paul Moorehead (Invited)
Senator Daniel Inouye. Patricia Zell (Invited)
Rep. Dale Kildee. Kim Teehee (Invited)

11:15 PM BIA Statistics
Ralph Gonzalez, Judge Coochise

12:00 PM LUNCH (On your Own)

1:30 PM NCAI, NIGA and NAICJA: Partnerships for Indian Country
Joe Garcia, Vice-President, NCAI
Earnest Stevens Jr., NIGA
Roman Duran, Vice-President, NAICJA

2:45 PM Break

3:00 PM Case Law Update:
Tracey Toulou, OTJ, DOJ
Melody McCoy, NARF
Q&A

4:45 PM Regional Meetings

6:00 PM Local Social Event

Tuesday, October 7, 2003

8:30 AM Opening Prayer

8:40 AM NAICJA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
State of NAICJA: President White-Fish
Establishment of a Quorum: Peacemaker Timothy Walker
Presentation of Proposed By-Law Changes: Judge Vele

10:00-10:15 Break

10:15 AM NAICJA General Membership Meeting (continues)
Membership voting on By-Law Changes
Input from Membership

12:00 PM-1:30 PM ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
Recognition of Long-serving Judges, Previous Presidents
Judge Vele, Judge White-Fish

1:30 PM NAICJA General Membership Meeting (continues)

3:00 PM Break

3:15 PM Concurrent Breakout Session One

Session I NTJRC Services: Tina Farrenkopf, NTJRC
Session II Computers for Judges: Lindsay Beeler, NTJRC
Session III Child Support Enforcement in Indian Country: Vincent Knight, NTJRC
Ruth Hara, MAXIMUS;
MaryAnn Wellbank, MAXIMUS

4:30 PM Regional Meetings

6:00 PM Event


Wednesday, October 8, 2003

8:00 AM General Session

8:30 AM Concurrent Breakout Session Two

Session I Drug Courts: The Wave of the Future
Judge Earnest White, L. Winnemukka
Session II Political Risks and Judicial Independence
Vincent Knight, Executive Director, NTJRC
Judge John St. Clair, Shoshone-Arapaho Tribe
Chuck Robertson, Executive Director, NAICJA

10:00 Break

10:15 AM Sovereignty Protection Initiative Update
John Echohawk, Executive Director, NARF
John Dossett, General Counsel, NCAI
Judge Coochise

12:00 PM LUNCH (on your own)

1:30 PM Funding Opportunities at DOJ, Norena Henry

2:15 Supreme Court Project: Summit II
Carey Vicenti

3:00 Functional Appellate Courts for Indian Country
Frank Pommersheim

3:30 PM Closing Event

4:00 PM CLOSING

HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME!!!