While this year marked the 50th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright—the landmark case that secured the right to government-paid counsel in state criminal proceedings—many state, local, and tribal justice officials are unaware that the right to free defense council does not apply in Indian Country. The 2010 Tribal Law and Order Act and the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act include provisions that affect not only tribal courts in general, but also the indigent defender community specifically. The upcoming National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) webinar, "Defender Initiatives in Indian Country,” will discuss how recent legislation has affected tribal courts, tribal-state collaboration initiatives, and the tribal defender community. This webinar will take place on June 11 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. EST and will examine how two tribal defender initiatives are enhancing the provision of justice and improving perceptions of procedural fairness. Specifically, it will highlight the work of the Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana and the work of Anishinabe Legal Services, an Indian legal services program that serves the Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake Reservations in northern Minnesota. In addition, this webinar will discuss state and federal resources available to support indigent defense in tribal courts.
For more information or to register for the webinar, click on the link below.