First of 6 BIA Office of Justice Services Trial Advocacy Training Kickoffs Tuesday

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

DULUTH, MINNESOTA – Beginning Tuesday, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services will hold the first in a series of six training sessions to improve the trial advocacy skills of tribal court prosecutors, defenders and judges.

Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Program

This first training session kicks is being held in Duluth, Minnesota, July 24-26. The focus of the training sessions will be on domestic violence.

The training is being conducted under the Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Program, a joint effort by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice that furthers the mandate of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 to strengthen tribal sovereignty over criminal justice matters on federal Indian lands by strengthening the skills of those who practice within the tribal court system.

The program is the result of a collaborative effort by the Office of Justice Services and Department of Justice's Access to Justice Initiative to offer trial advocacy training with courses designed specifically for tribal courts and free training to the judges, public defenders and prosecutors who work in them.

Training is provided in three areas - domestic abuse, illegal narcotics and sexual assault on children and adults - with faculty and instructional materials prepared by experts knowledgeable about tribal court issues. The program is unique because it also has training specifically for public defenders.

The remaining sessions will be held:

WHAT:
Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Program
Session with Training Topic on Domestic Violence.

WHO:
Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services

WHEN:
July 24-26,
Tuesday, July 24, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, July 25, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm,
Thursday, July 26, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

WHERE:
Edgewater Resort and Waterpark Hotel and Conference Center
2400 London Rd
Duluth, Minnesota 55812

posted July 23, 2012 6:50 am edt