Tribal Court

Information

SERVICES: The Chief Judge is responsible for oversight and administration of the Trial Court. The Trial Court interprets the laws and ordinances passed by the Tribal Council. These laws and ordinances are in codified form in the KBIC Tribal Code.

AUTHORITY AND ESTABLISHMENT:

The Tribal Court was established by Tribal Council authority under Article VI Section 1. The Court was established in 1972.

CREATION AND EXISTENCE: For Tribal Administrative Purposes only the Tribal Court resembles many of the other tribal programs. In reality however the Court System is codified at 1.101 as an independent branch of the KBIC government. It was created and exists as the third branch co-equal with the Executive and Legislative branches.

TYPES OF CASES: The Trial Court schedules cases for any day of the work-week. Along with the Criminal Docket the court also hears Civil (traffic) and Civil (small and large claims), Juvenile delinquent, Dependency and Neglect, Divorce and Guardianships and Conservatorships. Hunting Fishing and Trapping violations both Criminal and Civil in nature are also heard in the Trial Court.

JURISDICTION: The Tribal Court exercises criminal jurisdiction over KBIC tribal members and members from other federally recognized tribes within the boundaries of the KBIC reservation. Criminal jurisdiction extends to the ceded territories for hunting, fishing and trapping violations only. The Court exercises Civil jurisdiction over all civil matters involving Indians within the boundaries of the reservation.

LAW LIBRARY: Housed in the jury room there is a law library that is available to the public. In addition to many hard cover subscriptions the law library also has a computer with access to West Law and the internet.

STAFF: The court employs a Chief Judge, an Associate Judge, a Chief Clerk, a Deputy Clerk, a Probation Officer, a Post-Disposition Probation Officer and a Court Advocate.

Downloadable Forms

• Power of Attorney
• Affidavit of Default
• Application Execution Foreign Court
• Civil - Affidavit by Witness
• Civil Complaint Form
• Complaint for Divorce
• Name Change Petition
• Notice to Quit, Landlord
• Personal Protection Complaint - Domestic Violence
• Petition for Support, Custody, Visitation
• Replevin Complaint Form
• Application For Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative (Testate/Intestate)

Court Fee Schedule

Keweenaw Bay Tribal Court Fee Schedule Effective 10/13/2008
Civil Complaint	$40.00
Amended Complaint	$30.00
General Civil Motions Filing Fee	$30.00
Requests to reschedule a hearing after notices have been served	$25.00
General Civil Petition Filing Fee	$30.00
Custody/Support/Parenting Time Motions Filing Fee	$50.00
Custody/Support/Parenting Time Petition Filing Fee	$75.00
Writ Filing Fee	$25.00
Appeals Filing Fee	$75.00
Execution of Foreign Court Order	$20.00
Probate Filing Fee	$150.00
Marriage License	$40.00
Divorce Complaint	$65.00
PPO	$55.00
Peace Bond	$30.00
Restraining order within Divorce	$0.00
True Copy	$1.00/page
Certified Copy (signed by Judge & Clerk)	$15.00
Research & Retrieval Fee	$25.00/hr + $1.00/page
Tribal Code	$30.00
Tribal Court Advocacy	$100.00
Annual Advocacy fee	$20.00
Civil witness requests (each one)	$12.50 per half-day + mileage both ways
	$25.00 per full-day + mileage both ways
Checks are to be made out to the witness from the requester's own checking account at time of subpoena request.
Other noted charges: Transcripts....$3.50 per page for original, .50 cents/page for all original copies thereafter. Jury Pool payments $15.00 for half-day + mileage both ways $30.00 for full day + mileage both ways