Tribal-Judicial Summit Seeks to Improve Relationships and Understanding on Issues Affecting Tribes and Courts

Tribal-Judicial Summit Seeks to Improve Relationships and Understanding on Issues Affecting Tribes and Courts

Washington tribal and judicial branch leaders will convene for a summit Friday, June 6 in Shelton to participate in cultural awareness training, presentations and group discussions. The first-of-its-kind summit goes beyond legislative requirements to prepare courts and judges for current and future adjudication of water rights across the state; the summit seeks to build relationships with Tribes, which have a stake in adjudication of water rights and many other issues of justice.

The Washington Tribal-Judicial Summit is being co-hosted by Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens and Squaxin Island Tribe Chairman Kris Peters.

"We appreciate this opportunity to learn and share information with leaders of Washington's sovereign tribes," Stephens said. "It is important that we continue building strong relationships as we work together on issues that affect both tribes and state courts."

The summit is part of a new program of educational events and resources developed over the past year to increase water law awareness and training for Washington judicial officers. State lawmakers mandated the training in 2024 legislation authorizing courts to appoint water commissioners.

The educational components of the program were developed by the National Judicial College (NJC) in consultation with tribal representatives, state government officials, judicial branch leaders and attorneys specializing in water law. Overseeing the educational program have been NJC Associate Director Alf W. Brandt and University of Washington Professor of Law Monte Mills, director of the Native American Law Center.

For the day of the summit, cultural awareness training will be conducted throughout the morning, featuring James Gordon of the governor's Office of Indian Affairs. Participants will then gather for small group discussions facilitated by Chairman Peters and Chief Justice Stephens. Colville Tribal Court of Appeals Chief Justice Anita Dupris will speak to the challenges she has encountered in her decades-long career as a tribal leader, attorney and judge. A longtime participant in Washington's Tribal State Court Consortium, Chief Justice Dupris will share her perspective of walking in two worlds - state court systems and tribal government.

The overall goal of the summit is to foster deeper understanding among state judges and tribal leaders of each other's roles, and help build stronger relationships between tribes and state courts.