Dbaknegéwen

Tribal Court

The mission of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Court is to fully implement the delegation of Constitutional judicial authority from the people of the Tribe consistent with self-determination, the sovereign powers of the Nation, traditional values, fairness and justice.

Goals

To develop a judicial system which meets the judicial needs of both the Tribal community and its government.
To provide a forum for the resolution of all disputes under Tribal law arising in law and equity.
To provide due process and equal protection to all persons.
To promote Tribal self-government, community development and the human potential of all persons.
To develop judicial institutions and judicial tools which reflect the Band’s culture, traditions and values.

For matters involving the NHBP Tribal Court please contact us Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Please note that the NHBP Tribal Court is closed on most holidays.

NHBP Code and Constitution

Judiciary

Tribal Court

Hon. Melissa L. Pope
Appointed February 17, 2011 — December 31, 2014 and reappointed through December 31, 2018, December 13, 2018 – December 31, 2022, and on January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2026
Chief Judge
269.704.8395

Hon. David M. Peterson
Appointed through June 30, 2017 and reappointed on June 15, 2017 — June 30, 2021 and on July 1, 2021 — June 30, 2025
Associate Judge
269.704.8395

Supreme Court
Chief Justice Leander Bergen
Appointed January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2028

Associate Justice Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Appointed December 16, 2010 – December 31, 2014 and reappointed December 11, 2014 – December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2026

Associate Justice Holly T. Bird
Appointed December 16, 2010 – December 31, 2012 and reappointed on December 20, 2012 – December 31, 2018 and December 13, 2018 – December 31, 2024

Pro Tempore Associate Justice Travis W. Trueblood
Appointed June 15, 2023 – June 16, 2029

Court Staff

Holly L. Curtis
Tribal Court Administrator

holly.curtis@nhbp-nsn.gov
269.704.8395

Brishia Reynolds

Assistant Tribal Court Administrator
brishia.reynolds@nhbp-nsn.gov
269.704.8340

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Tribal Court Clerk
—@nhbp-nsn.gov
269.—.—-

Patti McClure
Domestic Violence Victim Advocate
Patricia.mcclure@nhbp-nsn.gov
269.704.8396

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Victim Services Assistant
—@nhbp-nsn.gov
269.—.—-

April Shepard
Tribal Court Probation Officer
april.shepard@nhbp-nsn.gov
269.704.8397

Court Rules

Chapter 1 Procedures for the Adoption of Court Rules (Amended)
Adopted on August 9, 2017

Chapter 2 Court Rules of Judicial Conduct (Amended)
Adopted on June 6, 2016

Chapter 3 Court Rules of Ethics for Tribal Court Personnel (Amended)
Adopted on June 6, 2016

Chapter 4 Court Rules of Professional Conduct
Adopted on March 29, 2012

Chapter 5 Court Rules of Civil Procedure
Adopted on August 1, 2012

Chapter 6 Court Rules for Small Claims
Adopted on September 2, 2009

Chapter 7 Court Rules of Evidence
Adopted on July 29, 2009

Chapter 8 Court Rules for Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Court Actions, Warrants, and Subpoenas
Adopted on July 9, 2010

Chapter 9 Court Rules of Appellate Procedure
Adopted on August 25, 2011

Chapter 10 Court Rules for Restraining Orders
Amended April 14, 2014

Chapter 11 Court Rules of Jury Procedure (Amended)
Adopted June 6, 2016

Chapter 12 Court Rules of Criminal Procedure (Amended)
Adopted on January 5, 2018

Chapter 13 Court Rules for Juvenile Justice Code Proceedings
Adopted on December 29, 2017

Chapter 14 Court Rules for Guardianship and Conservatorship Proceedings
Adopted August 18, 2014

Chapter 15 Court Rules for Domestic Violence Proceedings, including Table of Contents
Adopted June 9, 2016

Chapter 17 Court Rules for Contempt of Court Proceedings
Adopted September 28, 2016

Chapter 18 Court Rules for Exclusion Code Proceedings
Adopted on December 29, 2017

Chapter 19 Court Rules for Rental Housing Code for Judicial Eviction Proceedings
Adopted September 22 2016

Court Forms

Tribal Court Opinions

2021

Rios & Smit v. NHBP Election Board; 21-151-AMA/ELE and NHBP Tribal Council, Chairman Stuck, & Stuck as Individual Tribal Citizen v. NHBP Election Board; 21-152-AMA/ELE – Opinion After Oral Arguments filed 7-6-2021

In Re Election Board Board Decision 2021-2; Case No. 21-074-AMA/ELE – Opinion After Oral Argument filed 4-7-2021

Rios & Smit v. NHBP Election Board; Case No. 21-075-AMA/ELE – Opinion After Oral Argument filed 4-7-2021

2020
Administrative Order on the Administration of the NHBP Tribal Court in Response to COVID-19

2019
Published Order Regarding Standing In Temporary and Permanent Guardianship Of A Minor Child

2018
In Re IW – Opinion on Probating the Estate of a Tribal Citizen filed January 19, 2018 Opinion January 19, 2018
Opinion January 19, 2018

2017
Nathaniel Wesley Spurr v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge; 17-046-PPO/ND
Opinion and Order After Hearing on Respondent’s Motion for Reconsideration or Modification of Court Order filed July 21, 2017.

2013
13-043-CV: Terry Chivis v. NHBP Tribal Council and Homer A. Mandoka
Opinion and Order

13-043-CV: Terry Chivis v. NHBP Tribal Council and Homer A. Mandoka
Order of Dismissal

13-052-ECPP: In Re J
Opinion and Order

13-078CV/TRO; 13-079CV/TRO: Dean and Terry TenBrink v. NHBP Tribal Council & Election Board
Opinion and Order After Remand

13-078-CV/TRO; 13-079-CV/TRO: Dean & Terry TenBrink v. NHBP Tribal Council & Election Board
Order Regarding Status

13-080-CV/TRO; 13-078-CV/TRO; 13-079-CV/TRO: Rob Larson, Dean & Terry TenBrink v. NHBP Tribal Council & Election Board
Opinion and Order March 19, 2013

13-080-CV/TRO; 13-078-CV/TRO; 13-079-CV/TRO: Rob Larson, Dean & Terry TenBrink v. NHBP Tribal Council & Election Board
Opinion and Order April 23, 2013

13-123GM In Re K
Opinion after Order

2012
12-24-CS/PC; 12-143-CS/PC; 12-144-CS/PC; 12-145-CS/PC; 12-146-CS/PC: Kent County FOC v. Darrel Day
Opinion

12-068CV: Russell Chivis et al v. NHBP Tribal Council
Opinion and Order

2011
11-228-TRO: Nathaniel Spurr v. NHBP Tribal CouncilOpinion and Order

11-TRO: Nathaniel Spurr, et al. v. NHBP Council, Plante Moran, & NHBP Election BoardOpinion Regarding Plaintiff Request for Temporary Restraining Order and Permanent Injunction against the Tribal Council, Plant Moran LLP and the Tribal Election Board

2009
09-009-CV: CES Enterprises, LLC & Chad Stuck v. FireKeepers Development Authority

2007
07-002-CV: Joseph R. Capitano v. NHBP Tribal Council

Supreme Court Opinions

11/1/2021 NHBP Supreme Court Opinions 2013 – 2021 – Indexed by Gregory D. Smith, Chief Justice

2024
Order of the Supreme Court of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi filed 7-3-2024 in Wright et al v. NHBP et al, Case No. 21-154-APP.

Order of the Supreme Court of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Denying Motion for Reconsideration filed 8-16-2024 in Wright et al v. NHBP et al, Case No. 21-154-APP

2022

Opinion and Order of the Supreme Court for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi; Wright et al v. NHBP et al, Case No. 21-154-APP

Dorie Rios and Nancy Smit v. NHBP Election Board; 21-181-APP

Opinion of the Supreme Court filed 3-3-22

2021

In Re: NHBP Election Board Decision, Dispute 2021-2, (Administrative Appeal); 21-111-App

Opinion of the Supreme Court filed 10-21-21

2018
Nathaniel Wesley Spurr, (Petitioner/Appellee) v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge (Respondent/Appellant); 17-287-APP
Order regarding Oral Arguments filed 1-8-18

Nathaniel Wesley Spurr, (Petitioner/Appellee) v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge (Respondent/Appellant); 17-287-APP
Administrative Order filed 1-8-18

Spurr v. Spurr; 17-287-APP
Opinion of the Supreme Court for the NHBP

Spurr v. Spurr; 18-144-APP filed 10-4-18
Summary Opinion of the NHBP Supreme Court filed 10-4-18

2017
Nathaniel Wesley Spurr, (Petitioner/Appellee) v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge (Respondent/Appellant); 17-287-APP
Order Denying Stay filed 7-28-17

Nathaniel Wesley Spurr, (Petitioner/Appellee) v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge (Respondent/Appellant); 17-287-APP
Order Regarding Page Limit filed 9-13-17

Nathaniel Wesley Spurr, (Petitioner/Appellee) v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge (Respondent/Appellant); 17-287-APP
Order Approving Respondent’s Motion for Change of Date of Oral Argument filed 11-8-17

Nathaniel Wesley Spurr, (Petitioner/Appellee) v. Joy Spurr a/k/a Joy Judge (Respondent/Appellant); 17-287-APP
Order Denying Appellant’s Motion to reverse Trial Court’s October 6, 2017 Order filed 12-6-17

2013
13-078-CV/TRO; 13-079-CV/TRO: Dean & Terry TenBrink v. NHBP Tribal Council & Election Board
Appeal of Decision for the Tribal Election Board Opinion and Order

13-219APP: Terry Chivis v. NHBP Tribal Council and Homer A. Mandoka
Opinion and Order

2012
12-005-APP: Nathaniel Spurr, et al. v. NHBP Tribal Council, Plante Moran LLP & NHBP Election Board
Opinion after Supreme Court Hearing

12-005-APP: Nathaniel Spurr, et al. v. NHBP Tribal Council, Plante Moran LLP & NHBP Election Board
Order after Supreme Court Hearing

12-192-CR: Russell Chivis, et al. v. NHBP Tribal Council
Opinion and Order

Pro Se Appeal Guide

The Pro Se Litigant Guide to presenting appeals to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Supreme Court

Pro SE APPEAL GUIDE

Court Fees

Schedule Court Fees

Attorney Admissions

Requirements for Practicing Before Tribal Courts:

Every attorney who proposes to practice before the Courts of the Tribe must be duly admitted. Any attorney, who is admitted to practice in any state and who is in good standing, is eligible for admission. Each applicant for admission must complete an Application for Admission, Oath of Admission, and pay the Admission to Practice Fee.

Application for Admission to Practice

Oath of Admission