Judge to meet with Meskwaki Tribe after being suspended

Friday, May 20, 2011  

A judge in Iowa who was suspended for a week has been ordered to meet with the Meskwaki Tribe to discuss protocol.

Tama County magistrate Richard Vander Mey was suspended after he dismissed drunken driving charges against a tribal member. Vander Mey was apparently upset that the woman was released to tribal court to face a charge there before appearing in his court.

According to one news report, the sheriff's deputies were seven minutes late in bringing the woman in for her initial appearance. Vander Mey's decision is being appealed.

Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady reinstated Vander Mey's duties but said he must meet with the tribe and local prosecutors to discuss protocol for defendants who have been charged in both courts.

In a separate case, Vander Mey ruled that the tribe can never claim sovereign immunity but that ruling does not appear to have been an issue in his suspension.

Get the Story:
Tama County magistrate reinstated after drunken driving dismissal incident (The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier 5/19)
Chief Judge lifts restrictions of Tama County Magistrate (SourceMedia Group News 5/18)