State and tribal courts: Strategies for bridging the divide.

Source: (2012) Gonzaga Law Review. 47(3):801-838.

To the court’s participants, nothing seems unusual about this innovative
approach to justice. To them it makes perfect sense that state and tribal judges
would join forces to deal with the community’s problems. And that is exactly
what happens. The two judges jointly hear each case that comes before the
court, whether the offender is Native American or non-Native. They make all
critical decisions about the case together and are able to use their diverse
backgrounds and experiences to arrive at the best possible outcomes. Native
American offenders have reported a greater sense of trust and respect for the
court, and non-Native offenders often express their appreciation for the
thoughtful decision-making that two judges bring to each case. The court has
broken down old barriers between the state and tribal governments and built a
foundationforfuture collaboration. (excerpt)