NHBP’s Chief Tribal Court Judge Honored by the Michigan Bar Association

Written by Katie Halloran | Photos by Tribal Member and Photographer Johnathon Moulds

On September 21, the Michigan Bar Association’s Representative Committee granted its 2023 Unsung Hero Award to Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Chief Tribal Court Judge, the Honorable Melissa L. Pope. The Representative Committee awards ceremony took place immediately before the association’s Presidential Inauguration & Awards Luncheon in Troy, Michigan.

According to the Michigan Bar Association, “the Unsung Hero award is presented to a lawyer who has exhibited the highest standards of practice and commitment for the benefit of others.”

Always acting for the benefit of others, especially those most vulnerable, Judge Pope’s record at NHBP demonstrates her diligent advocacy for those who have experienced violence. Since her appointment as Chief Judge of NHBP Tribal Court in 2011, she has been involved with efforts to address the epidemic of violence against Indigenous People.

The qualifications for the Unsung Hero award recipient are:
• Must be a member in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan.
• Their contribution may have been made during the past year or by virtue of cumulative effort or service.
• Must be selected by the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly’s Nominating and Awards Committee.

The contributions of Judge Pope are the results of her decades-long cumulative efforts and service as a judge, advocate, educator and now, Unsung Hero. As a delegate of the Intertribal Technical-Assistance Working Group on Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (ITWG) and the NHBP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Enactment Team, Judge Pope worked in collaboration with NHBP Staff to develop the infrastructure, programs, and services needed to adopt a Domestic Violence Code that included restored jurisdiction pursuant to VAWA.

All these efforts are greatly appreciated by the NHBP Tribal Council.

“The exceptional accomplishments and unwavering commitment of the Honorable Melissa L. Pope to create a safer world for the next Seven Generations serves as a beacon of hope,” said NHBP Tribal Council Chairperson Jamie Stuck. “Judge Pope’s tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we at NHBP are incredibly proud to have her on our team. Her contributions to the legal community and Tribal Court systems have been invaluable. Her passion for justice is an inspiration to us all. We thank her for her continued service and dedication.”

Judge Pope was awarded the Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence by the American Bar Association in June 2023, thanks to her advocacy for Victims of violence.

Judge Pope remains committed to the fundamental belief that equality for one community can only be achieved through the equality of all. She seeks inspiration and knowledge from the individuals who shed light on these important and often overlooked or ignored issues.

“I am grateful for the gift of learning from many amazing individuals throughout my life – Elders, Veterans, Tribal Leaders, Advocates, Healers, Survivors, Colleagues, Family, and Friends,” said Pope. “They have taught me through their selfless service to work within the efforts to restore the inherent Sovereignty taken from Tribal Nations that has created predators of Indigenous Women, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Indigenous Relatives crisis, and the epidemic of violence against Indigenous Women, Children, Men, and LGBTIQ+ and Two Spirit Relatives that touches our lives every day.”

Judge Pope has further utilized her knowledge, skills and passion for building the NHBP court system in collaboration with the Tribal Council, Tribal Elders and Tribal Citizens to not only create a Victim Services Department (VSD) but also to integrate trauma-informed, victim-centered, traditional culturally honoring care into the very foundation of the NHBP Tribal Court. Under her leadership, she has expanded the VSD to now include two full-time staff, one staff in the Culture Department to plant, care for, and harvest Sacred Medicines to empower Survivors, consistent access to a Traditional Female Healer, and services that span the specific needs of each Survivor.

The service of Judge Pope extends well beyond her work for the NHBP Tribe. She also serves in the elected position of Chief Justice of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Court of Appeals, a position she has maintained since 2009. To assist future advocates and leaders, Judge Pope also teaches American Indian Law as a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law since 2007.

To learn more about the Unsung Hero Award and its past awardees, please visit:  https://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/awards.