Justice Barbara Madsen, (J.D. ’77) continues work with Washington’s Tribal State Court Consortium

Justice Barbara Madsen joined nearly 30 other judicial officers representing Washington State courts as well as the tribal courts of the Colville, Yakama, Kalispel, Swinomish, and Lummi tribes at the 2017 Tribal State Court Consortium Eastern Regional meeting in Nespelem, WA on July 21. After Colville tribal elder Charlanne Quinto gave the opening prayer, B.J. Jones, executive director of the Tribal Justice Institute at the University of North Dakota School of Law, delivered the meeting’s keynote presentation on the value of tribal-state court consortia. Jones teaches criminal and Indian law classes and is the executive director of the Tribal Justice Institute at the University of North Dakota School of Law. Chief Justice Anita Dupris of the Colville Tribal Court of Appeals and Judge Sophie Nomee of the Colville Tribal Court gave a guided tour of their courthouses and shared information about the practices of their respective court. Founded in 2013 under Justice Madsen’s leadership, the TSCC is a collaboration between the Minority and Justice Commission, Gender and Justice Commission, Administrative Office of the Courts, and tribal courts across Washington State. The consortium seeks to provide an open forum where state and tribal court judges can discuss issues surrounding jurisdiction, gaps in services, and ways to develop lasting partnerships.