COEUR d’ ALENE

Brief History of Tribe and Reservation

History of self-governance

Tribal governing body

Structure of tribal government

Tribal oversight of Tribal Court

Tribal Court Information

Attorneys and Advocates Admitted to Practice

Tribal Code

Coeur d'Alene Tribe - Website

  1. Brief History of Tribe and Reservation

    2. The aboriginal territory of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe encompassed approximately four million acres over an area that extended into Washington and Montana and which was centered around Coeur d’Alene Lake. The aboriginal tribal economy was based upon hunting, fishing, and gathering. Dissatisfaction with treaties being negotiated for Tribal lands led to battles with federal troops in 1858. The Coeur d’Alene Reservation was established by Executive Order dated November 8, 1873.

  2. History of self-governance

    3. The government of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has existed since time immemorial. Each Coeur d’Alene villages had a council. Larger villages had principal and assistant headmen who regulated community economic, social, and religious affairs. Power was based upon persuasion and public opinion. The strongest sanction was exile, which was reserved for serious offenses. Band chiefs, war leaders, and hunting leaders yielded particular influence. Today, the Tribe is organized under a Constitution approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on September 2, 1949, and amended in 1961. The constitution provides for a tribal council to serve as the governing body of the Tribe and establishes all tribal members of voting age as the General Council, among other things.

          1. Tribal Governing Body: Seven member Tribal Council; elected to 3 year terms; staggered expiration years.
          2. Structure of Tribal Government: Voting membership can legislate by initiative or referendum.
          3. Tribal Committee that oversees Tribal Court: Law and Order Committee

    Law and Order Administrator: Charles Matheson

  3. Tribal governing body
  4. Structure of tribal government
  5. Tribal oversight of Tribal Court
  6. Tribal Court Information:

    7. Name of Tribal Court: Coeur d’Alene Tribal Court:

    Tribal Court Levels: Tribal Court; Tribal Supreme Court (2 judges).

    1. Names and Titles of Tribal Judges: (* attorney judge)
      2.

      Earl L. McGeoghegan

      Acting Chief Judge

      David L. Harding

      Acting General Judge

       

      Qualification Requirements for Judges:

      Chief & Special Judges: Graduate of an accredited law school and admitted to practice in one of the United States district courts; between 25 and 69 years of age; no felony convictions; must have clear understanding of tribal code and customs.

      General Judge: enrolled member of recognized tribe; between 25 and 69 years of age; no felony conviction; must have clear understanding of tribal code and customs; appointed by Tribal Council on an as-needed basis.

      Judge Pro Tempore: As designated by the Chief Judge or Tribal Council.

    2. Court Address: RR P.O. Box 11CDA, Plummer, ID 83851
    3. Court Telephone: (208) 686-0777
    4. Court Telefax: (208) 686-1289
    5. Court Manager: Lucille Hutchinson
    6. Court Clerk's Office:
        1. Clerk's Address: RR P.O. Box 11CDA, Plummer, ID 83851
        2. Clerk's Telephone: (208) 686-1777
        3. Clerk's Telefax: (208) 686-1289
    7. Name of Clerks

      8. Francine Pierre - Chief Court Clerk

      Susan Garry - Deputy Court Clerk

      Nicole Pakoostas - Deputy Court Clerk

    8. Tribal Prosecutor
        1. Qualification Requirements for Prosecutor: As designated by Tribal Council.
        2. Prosecutor's Name: Rudy Verschoor
        3. Prosecutor's Address: RR P.O. Box 11CDA, Plummer, ID 83851
        4. Prosecutor's Telephone: (208) 686-5120
        5. Prosecutor's Telefax: (208) 686-5069
    9. Tribal Defender
        1. Qualification Requirements for Defender:
        2. Defender's Name: Dee Teren
        3. Defender's Address: RR P.O. Box 11CDA, Plummer, ID 83851
        4. Defender's Telephone: (208) 686-5504
        5. Defender's Telefax: (208) 686-5706
  7. Attorneys and Advocates Admitted to Practice

    8. Alex Gambrel

    (Smith Hemingway)

    1519 W. Broadway

    Spokane, WA 99201

    (509) 328-5550

    Bobby Condon

    Spokane, WA

    Brian Collins

    Spokane, WA

    Dan Rude

    (Rude Jackson)

    P.O. Box 1453

    Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816-1453

    (208) 667-1943

    David Ward

    Spokane, WA

    Fred W. Gabourie, Jr.

    810 N. Spokane St.

    Post Falls, ID 83854

    (208) 773-1602

    Fred Gabourie

    Worley, ID

    Ray Givens

    (Givens & Funke)

    424 E. Sherman Ave.,

    Ste. 308

    P.O. Box 969

    Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83816

    (208) 667-5486

    Shannon Work

    (Givens Funke)

    424 E. Sherman Ave., Ste. 308

    P.O. Box 969

    Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83816

    (208) 667-5486

    Michael Haman

    (Quane Smith)

    250 Northwest Blvd.

    Ste. 206

    P.O. Box 1758

    Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83816-1758

    (208) 664-9821

    Patty Weeks

    Rte. 2, Box 31

    Reubens, ID 83548-9603

    (208) 924-6442

    Scott W. Reed

    P.O. Box A

    Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83816

    (208) 664-2161

    Tara Allgood

    Coeur d’ Alene, ID

    Ted Schott

    (Nordstrom Nees)

    323 S. Pines Rd.

    Spokane, WA 99206

    (509) 924-9800

    Kelly R. Stravens

    Coeur d’Alene, ID

    Holli Pursley

    Plummer, ID

    Robert J. Caldwell

    P.O. Box 1106

    Lewiston, ID 83501

    (208) 798-2113

     

     

     

    Requirements to Practice Before Tribal Court and Application Process:Provision for Spokesperson (non-attorney); attorney must be licensed to practice before any supreme court; signed affidavit that tribal code read; promise to abide by court rules; $25.00 fee.

  8. Tribal Code
      1. Official Designation of Tribal Code: Coeur d’Alene Tribal Code
      2. Source of Copies of Code: Chief Court Clerk
      3. Cost for Copy of Code: $250.00
      4. Rules of Criminal Procedure: Chapter 3, Tribal Code
      5. Rules of Civil Procedure: Chapter 4, Tribal Code
      6. Code Provisions Defining Court Jurisdiction:

1-3.01 Jurisdiction

The Tribal Court shall have jurisdiction over all matters occurring within the exterior boundaries of, or affecting the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. Any enrolled Indian, but not Coeur d’Alene, and any non-Indian who voluntarily comes onto or lives within the exterior boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation hereby accepts and consents to the jurisdiction of the Court as provided in this Code. The Tribal Court shall have all means necessary to allow the exercise of its jurisdiction.

1-5.01 Concurrent Jurisdiction

The Tribal Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any of the matters enumerated in this Code, provided, however, that with respect to any of the matters enumerated in this Code over which the United States or the State of Idaho may have jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of the Tribal Court shall be concurrent and not exclusive. Further, should the Coeur d’Alene Tribe not desire to exercise its exclusive jurisdiction, and if the United States or the state of Idaho properly exercise jurisdiction over any matter, the jurisdiction so exercised by the United States or the state of Idaho shall be concurrent and not exclusive.