Criminal Defense & Juvenile Delinquency in the Tribal Courts
MILS staff may provide criminal representation for members of federally acknowledged/recognized tribes in tribal court if
1) court appointed counsel is not available to the client, and
2) the MILS Board has prioritized services in the particular tribal court after taking into account program resources and the resources available to the tribe.
Since 2008, MILS has provided criminal defense representation in tribal courts and now provides this service in several of the tribal courts using DOJ BJA, LSC, and tribal contract funds. MILS represents criminal defendants facing loss of liberty in tribal courts. By assisting unrepresented defendants in criminal cases, MILS has helped develop tribal justice systems and tribal court judges believe that they can better serve justice when MILS represents defendants who would otherwise be unrepresented.
