20240425-160103-24

On 4/22/24, a TTA Needs Assessment meeting conducted via zoom with Grantee Yakama Nation for TTA Needs Assessment review.
In attendance, TLPI Tribal Courts Team, and Project Partner NAICJA Team Elton Naswood, and Mary Rodriguez; and Tamara Saluskin, Yakama

Needs Assessment: Team reviewed all of the answers on the call to complete the TTA Needs Assessment and asked clarifying questions to get more information on specific needs, training, resources that would be helpful, current status of project goals, and planning. Team will get together to come up with a work plan and/or have an additional meeting to follow-up.

The following is the snapshot of the TTA Needs Assessment areas for priority focus:
Tribal code and policy development (security policies and procedures): On Judicial behavior and review policies etc.; Data collection and information sharing strategies; Court technology; Data management (case file system, computer databases, generating reports, etc.) Electronic filings specifically; Developing Self-Help websites, Developing Self Help/Pro Se Form, Appellate Courts (Example: Development and implementation); Establishing a Peacemaking/Traditional Court Program, Alternative/Restorative sentencing options.

Webinar/Podcasts: Appellate Courts (Example: Development and implementation); Tribal Courts s (Example: Development and implementation, enhancement of programs, Pro Se information); traditional forums

Publications: Tribal Courts s (Example: Development and implementation, enhancement of programs, Pro Se information); Appellate Courts;
Pretrial Services

Site Visit: Peacemaking Court, Tribal Court with Legal Aid Services/Pro Se Programs, Tribal Court with Restorative Justice Programs/Practices, Tribal Court with Alternative Sentencing Programs/Practices, Tribal Public Defender's Office

Needs Assessment discussion:
Hired Court Clerk in January of this year and Associate Judge appointed in February.

Strategic Plan: She will share this or the goals with us. It was completed through PA2 and we completed in 2018 so a little outdated, right before pandemic hit. It is comprehensive so wasn't fully focused on the courts.

Tribal Custom and Tradition: Revised Yakama Code is something to look at as this is interpreted in various ways. Each department and program, written into revised Yakama Code to keep things simple and whenever possible will use customs and traditions. As a requirement of judges, they must be knowledgeable about customs and traditions.

Process/P&P for project staff: Any assistance around what is healthy and or helpful to share with employees so they know what is going on but not to overburden would be helpful. Maybe an overview of objectives, specific tasks, goals, etc. and making sure there is clear role in what data or information may need to be collected.

Training for new staff: Pursuant to revised Yakama Code, all clerks are required to take Court Clerk Training and be Certified.
Judges are required to complete 45 hours of judicial training annually. Previously did work with SAGE Consulting; and currently, they have 5 new clerks and 1 bailiff/clerk that need to complete Clerk Certification so they are bringing SAGE back in May.

Data Collection: They want capability to share reports with Tribal leadership and Tribal Community and to know what do other courts collect and share. They had a Court Assessment completed by the Whitener Group and they are going to report in May Tribal Council session and share their recommendations. They are hoping they can provide 1 time assistance is to update their electronic case management system.

Tribal Code and Policy: The Judges are not subject to personnel policy but in Tribal Council resolution that appointments them, it specifies this, however, they are not disciplined the same way or evaluated the same way, and this causes problems with demeanor mostly. Possibly creating a judicial evaluation.

Data Management: need electronic filing, as during the pandemic, started accepting email filings because they didn't have proper covid protocols in place yet - were very flexible but now that its post pandemic, the Chief Judge is no longer accepting email filings.

Pro Se/Self Help: Would be helpful now, even without systems in place, to include forms and instructions.

Appellate Courts: They recently had Tribal Court Assessment and consultants shared that BIA was doing Appellate Court Assessments
They need better written Appellate rules, policies, and procedures.

Pretrial Services: They don't have pretrial services and don't know much about it and would love to learn what else is out there and what other people do.

TLOA/VAWA: DV protection orders were something they were working on not having a backlog on, and this was Chief Judge's priority so they are not backlogged at this time.

Other TTA Needs: updating Court Clerk Manual - they have one but needs some updates.

Peer to Peer Learning: Training for Court Administrator - she has been in position less than 1 year and she was one of the Clerks that has been here the longest but no supervisory experience, so she could benefit from meeting with someone that can share some things she could improve upon.

Resources shared: NAICJA has some resources in terms of Judicial Training - shared annual conference coming up in October (CLE hours available); NAICJA has collaborated with SAGE Consulting so can assist with that as well - can help with getting Clerks certified.
Johanna worked closely with Pascua Yaqui before she left around data collection.
Other potential resources: Caseload management and backlog, efiling, data collection, pro-se help, training for court administrator, judicial review, code resources.