General Information

The Colville Tribal Court has existed since the 1940's and is an independent branch of the Tribal government. The trial court's Rules and Procedures for criminal cases are set forth in Chapters 1 and 2 of the Colville Tribal Law and Order Code. The Code lists criminal offenses in Chapter 3. The Court of Appeals has separately published its Rules pursuant to Amendment X (article VIII, Judiciary) to the Constitution of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

The Tribal Court consists of a trial court and the Colville Tribal Court of appeals. These two courts exercise criminal jurisdiction over Indians who violate the Colville Tribal law and Order Code while on the Tribes' nearly 1.5 million acre reservation. The Tribal Courts jurisdiction also extends to both Indians and non-Indians in civil matters that take place on the Reservation.

The trial court currently consists of a Chief Judge and two full time Associates Judges. The Tribal Court of Appeals is comprised of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Opinions of the Court of Appeals are published to Fast Case as well as to Westlaw and are available here https://www.colvilletribes.com/court-of-appeals