Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Drs. Lepage and Fortson present at 31st Annual Tribal Court Development Conference in Fairbanks

L to r: Dr. Cory Lepage, UAA Justice Center; Lisa Jaeger,
Tanana Chiefs Conference.  At podium: Dr. Ryan Fortson,
UAA Justice Center, discusses research possibilities.
Dr. Cory R. Lepage and Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, presented at the 31st Annual Alaska Tribal Court Development Conference, August 5-7, in Fairbanks.  They discussed the research possibilities for exploring the effectiveness of tribal courts, particularly in the area of minor consuming alcohol (MCA) cases. Barbara Armstrong, editor of the Alaska Justice Forum, also attended the event.

Participants included state and tribal court judges, court clerks, tribal administrators, Native village representatives, as well federal and state agency representatives.  The event was hosted by the Tanana Chiefs Conference  (TCC).
Dr. Cory R. Lepage presents
possible research
methodology.

L to r: Alaska Supreme Court Justice Dan Winfree and
Chief Justice Dana Fabe, speak with Wilson Justin,
Tribal Administrator, Cheesh'na Tribal Council.
The agenda included presentations on the role of appellate courts, alcohol and substance abuse, misdemeanors and juvenile cases, current topics in children's cases, domestic violence, restorative justice and the use of circles, building state-tribal relations, and a panel of state and tribal judges sharing their perspectives.

Participants at the conference.



The conference is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Indian Affairs through the National Tribal Judicial Center at the National Judicial College, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Tribal Management Program.

Program materials from the conference are available on the Tanana Chiefs Conference website, including 3 articles related to tribal courts that will be appearing in an upcoming issue of the Justice Center's quarterly research publication, the Alaska Justice Forum.

See slideshow from the conference below.