Civil Defense in Tribal Court
MILS attorneys will provide civil representation to members of federally acknowledged/recognized tribes in tribal court if court appointed counsel is not available to the client. After taking into account program resources, MILS staff will provide assistance in the following matters:
juvenile delinquency
banishment
civil infractions (fishing violations, etc)
evictions
garnishment
abuse and neglect and related child welfare matters
MILS staff will also provide representation in cases of loss of essential services or major impairment of substantial interests.
MILS will not provide representation in tribal court in the following matters:
divorce cases
custody disputes between parents
employment disputes
cases involving termination of employment
paternity matters
Note that nothing in the description of this priority is intended to amend the MILS Indian v Indian policy including the part of that policy that prevents the representation of one individual Indian against another.