Contact Us

(218) 335-3682 Phone
(218) 335-3685 Fax

Address
190 Sailstar Drive NW
Cass Lake, MN 56633

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Our Staff

Honorable Paul W. Day, Chief Judge

Honorable Amber Ahola, Associate Judge

Jacquelyn Wright, Court Administrator

Dynell Morris, Court Clerk

Amanda Richardson, Court Clerk

Area Served

Leech Lake Reservation
Beltrami County
Cass County
Hubbard County
Itasca County

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Tribal Court

The Tribal Court has two (2) components.

The first component is the trial court, with its judges, lawyers, cases, hearings, orders and appeals.

The second component is the Bamenim Anishinabeg (BA) program. BA was created to help make the Tribal Court culturally relevant to our Band members. It is what makes the Tribal Court different than other courts.

The BA program has a number of services available to Band members (and sometimes, to nonBand members). For example, the BA recently completed a federally-funded Re-Entry program that assisted juveniles who were being released from detention and "re-entering" the community. The Re Entry program ended recently, but the Family Drug Court (FDC) is now operational. The FDC can handle up to ten (10) participants who have substance abuse issues and a child protection case pending. The BA also has a state-funded program for working with juveniles and their families.

The BA program was recently licensed by the LLBO to provide cultural-based services to Band members who are undergoing treatment as part of a criminal case or family problem. The services provided by BA are supplemental to the treatment services the client receives at the LLBO A&D programs and the LLBO Behavioral Health programs. Examples of cultural-based services include naming ceremonies, healing ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, big drum ceremonies and a host of other activities related to the culture and traditions of the Anishinabeg.

Our Mission

"To Establish a fair and effective justice system incorporating research-based practices and Ojibwe culture and values; to protect the rights of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe people; to preserve natural and Band resources; and to promote peace, health and public safety within the Leech Lake Reservation."

Directions to Court

The Courtroom is located at 190 Sailstar Drive NW, Cass Lake, MN 56633

Court Fees

The following shall constitute the fee schedule for Tribal Court Services.

 COURT SERVICES FEES
Civil Court Filing Fee $25.00
Appellate Court Filing Fee $50.00
Verbatim Transcript of Court Proceedings (Per Page) $2.00
Audio Transcript of Court Proceedings (Per CD) $15.00
Photocopying Fee  (Per Page)     $0.15
Application for Attorney Admission to Practice $100.00
Annual Attorney Admission Renewal Fee $25.00

Case Filing Procedures

There is a $25.00 filing fee for all new civil actions. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can request that it be waived by filing a Fee Waiver form.

Court Fines

Fine payments can be made at the Tribal Court Administration Office, or at the Leech Lake Accounting Office (located in the upper level of the Facilities Center, 16126 John Moose Drive NW, Cass Lake). Checks and money orders should be made payable to “Leech Lake Tribal Court.” The court also has community service options. Please contact the court for more information.