Apsaalooke Bar Association Formed

By Dale Kindness
CrowNews.Net

   The Crow Tribal Court Bar Association (CTCBA) was created by act of the Crow Tribal Legislature in 2001 and the first Crow Tribal Court Bar Examination was administered in November 2002 at the Little Big Horn College.  A stated legislative purpose of creating the CTCBA was to raise the standards and qualifications for people who practice law and represent people in the Crow Tribal Court by making it a requirement that they pass the Crow Bar Examination. The exam is a four-hour written test of one's knowledge of laws applicable to the Crow Tribe of Indians, including constitutional, treay, traditional, common law, statutory and case law of the Crow Tribe and federal courts, particularly decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

In January 2008, members of the CTCBA met for the purpose of officially organizing into a professional entity comparable to other recognized tribal, state and federal bars in the United States.  Corporate and organizational documents will be filed with the Crow Tribal Secretary's Office as well as the Montana Secretary of State's Office in order to be recognized in each jurisdiction. Members decided to name the organization the "Apsaalooke Bar Association" (ABA) and selected Dale Kindness, Crow Agency, as acting president and Bobbi Schenderline, Lodge Grass, as acting secretary-treasurer until official elections for officers are held in the near future.

The ABA membership is composed of licensed attorneys from the local area and throughout the state as well as non-attorneys.  The majority of members have earned a 4-year college degree and most have earned a 2-year college degree. Also, most ABA members are members of the Crow Tribe of Indians.  Some ABA members have 20 years' experience in the Crow Tribal Court, state and federal courts, and there are a few with 30 years' court experience.

Due to lack of funding to assist the newly-created Apsaalooke Bar Association for organizational purposes, all meetings have been on a voluntary basis with "no expenses provided" to cover travel or other necessary expenses. Funding will be pursued once corporate and organizational papers are filed with the Crow Tribe and state, and elections for ABA officers have taken place.

The Apsaalooke Bar Association, in a sense, is a "grass-roots" organization dedicated to assisting the Crow Tribe of Indians and Crow Tribal Judicial Branch in the administration of law and justice for people and entities subject to the jurisdiction of the Crow Tribe of Indians.

Comments and suggestions are welcomed.  Please submit them to:  Apsaalooke Bar Association, P.O. Box 1161, Crow Agency, MT  59022.

Dale Kindness, Acting President 

Bobbi Schenderline, Acting Secretary-Treasurer