On 3/6/2024 TLPI held their Virtual Kick Off Meeting for FY 23 CTAS PA 3 Grantees. Tamara Saluskin for the Yakama Tribal Court joined the virtual meeting via zoom. TLPI presented on the Tribal Courts, Tribal Justice System, and Intergovernmental Collaboration Projection, the broad range of TLPI resources, publications, webinars, and various TTA projects. TLPI also discussed how to request TTA, the TTA TLPI process (which consists of TA Coach assignments, the development of a TA workplan, and a final TA report. in collaboration with grantees and tribal TTA partners.) TLPI then had a discussion with grantees to identify their TTA goals and priorities. Tamara shared that their current priorities/goals when drafting the proposal were catching up on backlog that occurred during the pandemic; During pandemic, they could only hear priority cases - criminal cases that were time sensitive or children's court shelter care hearings and civil cases were for emergency protection orders and custody. Because there was no regular docket, so many cases were not heard and they are finally catching up to some degree, but this was the biggest area for their needs and seeking assistance through PA3, needed to add one regular full-time judge (they have 4-year appointments) so worked out they would do one appointment and have one clerk to help. They are in the middle of a huge transition, they just moved into new justice center/facility, and they are going through some growing pains and are in an adjustment period. They had some moving expenses, startup costs, furnishings, etc. for the new building. Professional services for the movers so they would have less downtime. The Tribe was in the middle of getting new CFO and it was primary person who works in grants and contracts that moved into this position so when awarded the grant, this transition held up the budget (wasn't set up internally right away) so they couldn't advertise their position immediately. Once they were able, they advertised, and it took a couple rounds but hired clerk in January. Judges are harder to get on board because Tribal Council ultimately makes that decision, but they were able to appoint the new judge last month so her 4-year appointment started about 3 weeks ago. Yakama Nation went through retrocession so had influx of criminal cases and some civil, as well as juvenile. They finally have their full team hired and onboard but then their Chief Judge had to take a bit of leave and will be back on Friday. A resource on backlogs was shared.
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