Officials of the Red Lake Nation say they are taking steps to improve their tribal court in response to criticism from tribal members, experts and outsiders.

Last year, the tribe commissioned a study by Mary Pearson, an attorney and tribal court judge from the Pacific Northwest. Pearson warned of a huge backlog in unresolved complaints, lack of funding and little coordination in dealing with Native youth, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Shirley Cain, a tribal member, served as chief judge of the court in 2003. She called it "one of the worst systems I've ever encountered in my career as a lawyer," the paper reported. Others say the court suffers from a lack of independence, with interference from elected officials.

The tribe's treasurer said a coordinator has been hired to make the court more efficient. Former Bobby Whitefeather is implementing suggestions made by Pearson.

Get the Story:
Red Lake: Questions of authority and order in tribal court (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 5/8)
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Relevant Links:
Red Lake Net News - http://www.rlnn.com
Red Lake Nation - http://www.redlakenation.org
Red Lake High School - http://www.paulbunyan.net/rlschools/hs.htm

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