OJS to Hold Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Sessions on Cases Involving Trafficking in Illegal Narcotics, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on Adults and Children

WASHINGTON – Because of a high level of interest, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (OJS) is providing legal training it successfully held last year to new groups of tribal court prosecutors, defenders and judges to improve their trial advocacy skills. The training focuses on cases involving the trafficking of illegal narcotics, domestic violence and sexual assault on adults and children.

The first session in the 2013 OJS Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Program will take place on May 14-16 in Missoula, Mont., with cases on domestic violence. It will include a roundtable discussion on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

The remaining 2013 training schedule and topics are: June 17-20 in Grand Forks, N.D. (sexual assault on children); July 22-25 in Reno, Nev. (illegal narcotics), Aug. 6-9 in Philadelphia, Miss. (domestic violence); and Dec. 2-5 in Oklahoma City (sexual assault on adults). As with the May session, each will include a roundtable discussion on VAWA.

Tribal court trial advocacy training is mandated by the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 and is being conducted under the Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Program – a joint effort by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that furthers the mandate of the Act to strengthen tribal sovereignty over criminal justice matters on federal Indian lands by sharpening the skills of those who practice within the tribal court system.

The program is the result of a collaborative effort by the OJS and DOJ’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 will be

conducted by working law professionals using instructional materials prepared by experts knowledgeable about tribal court issues. The program is unique for its public defenders training.

President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act on March 7, 2013. It includes important provisions for federally recognized tribes to combat violence against Native women such as homicide, rape, assault and battery in the home, workplace and on school campuses throughout Indian Country.

WHO: Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services.

WHAT: The first of five 2013 Tribal Court Trial Advocacy Training Program sessions

mandated under the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 to improve the trial

advocacy skills of tribal court prosecutors, defenders and judges.

WHEN: May 14-16, 2013 (MDT)

Tuesday, May 14: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 15: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 16: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, 5252 Airway Blvd. (I-90, Exit 99/Airway Blvd.,

1 block), Missoula, Mont. 59808; Phone: 406-541-8000.

CREDENTIALS: This invitation is extended to credentialed media representatives, who must

display sanctioned media credentials for admittance to the event.