Legal training targets tribal justice system

PABLO (AP) — Melody Sure Chief is like many tribal prosecutors in that all of her courtroom experience comes from decades working in the Blackfeet court system.

U.S. Attorney for Montana Michael Cotter and Indian Law and Justice Commission Executive Director Jeff Davis address tribal prosecutors from reservations in Montana, Washington and North Dakota attending legal training in Pablo.

Of the 20 prosecutors working in the tribal court systems on Montana's eight Indian reservations, only six have law degrees. Sure Chief says that lack of formal legal training hasn't hurt her, but she is always looking for ways to become more courtroom savvy.

Fourteen tribal prosecutors from reservations in Montana, Washington and North Dakota met last week on the Flathead Indian Reservation for legal training from the Montana U.S. Attorney's Office.

The topics ranged from nuts-and-bolts strategies to a mock domestic violence trial.

The training is part of a push by the U.S. Attorney's office to improve communication between the federal and tribal justice systems.