Meskwaki Tribal Court

About Us

Meskwaki Tribal Court

The Tribal Court of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa was established by Tribal Council Resolution No. 12-2004, enacted on June 9, 2004. This resolution created an integrated judicial department consisting of a court of appeals, a trial court, and such lower or intermediate courts as the Tribal Council deems necessary to resolve disputes. This section will help you learn more about the Meskwaki Tribal Court and its work.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Meskwaki Tribal Court to administer Justice according to laws that govern the Meskwaki Nation by exercising all judicial and dispute resolution powers of the Tribe.

Vision Statement

To discover and determine the truth; and to seek a resolution which restores balance to the community in accordance with the customs and traditions of the tribe, repairs relationships, results in fairness, and avoids principles of retribution and punishment.

Announcements

ATTENTION ALL JURORS:

There is no Jury Duty for November, 2024
All Jurors are released from Jury Duty and no longer need to check in each month

SEE NEW Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys in Tribal Court

Click this link to see the Administrative Order regarding the Adoption of Rules of Professional Conduct

TRAFFIC CITATION?

Civil Traffic citations issued by Meskwaki Nation Police Depart are typically not filed in the Clerk's office right away and, therefore, the information from the citation will not show up immediately on CitePay USA. It may take 10 to 14 days for a citation to be entered in the Court database by the clerks, so check back frequently if you are trying to pay a citation on-line.

FILING A DOCUMENT?

If you need to file or drop off a document you may file it at the Court's front desk, or place it in the Black Drop Box located by the front door of the Justice Center, or email your pleadings to: clerk.court@meskwakicourt.org

HEARING COMING UP?

All Court Users are expected to appear in person for scheduled hearings in their case. If a party requests to appear remotely for a hearing they must complete a written form and send to the other parties in their case (or their attorneys) to allow them an opportunity to agree or object to the request. FORM TO USE: Go to top of this page to "Forms and Information", select "For the Public", and click to download and print "Motion for Remote Appearance".

Need to contact the Public Defender's Office?

Cynthia Tofflemire, Attorney at Law, Tribal Public Defender

NEW office phone number: (641) 481-0496. This new number can be used to call or text the Public Defender directly. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE IF NO ANSWER AND YOUR CALL WILL BE RETURNED as soon as possible.

Email: ct.pd@meskwaki-nsn.gov
Fax: (515) 274-6290
For an in-person visit, please contact Cynthia Tofflemire directly to set up a telephone or an in-person appointment
Tribal Public Defender since 2018
Office not located on the Settlement but attends hearings and meetings in person, remotely by video or by telephone.

Meskwaki Tribal Court UPDATES

See "Court Docket" for tentative current week hearing schedule.

Schedule is subject to last minute changes or errors. Please contact Clerk of Court's office directly if you are unsure what time a hearing is scheduled, or if it has been removed or delayed at the last minute.

Your hearing can only be changed by the approval or by a new order of a Judge.

Parties should consult their attorney, orders or citations/paperwork they have been previously provided for information about their upcoming hearing.

NEW: Rules of Professional Conduct. The Meskwaki Court of Appeals issued an administrative order (AO-2024-009) officially adopting Rules of Professional Conduct that govern the conduct of attorneys and lay advocates practicing in Meskwaki Tribal Court.

Upcoming Tribal Court Closures:

Nov. 11 Veterans Day

Nov. 22 Employee Harvest Meal

Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Day

Nov. 29 Native American Heritage Day

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve (Noon-4:30)

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

Jan. 1 New Year's Day

community infoRMATION

Need Legal Assistance but not sure if you can afford it?

Call IOWA LEGAL AID at 1-800-532-1275 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. weekdays and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays except Thursday.

Iowans 60 and over may apply for help by calling the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161 any weekday between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00.

“Service” or “service of process” means the formal delivery of a legal document, such as a complaint or petition, to ensure that the opposing party is aware of the action and is given an opportunity to respond.

Legal Disclaimer

Disclaimer

The information on this website is provided as a service to tribal members and other Internet users and is for your convenience only. Information may be changed or updated without notice. The information on this website includes primary legal resources such as statutes, rules of procedure, and downloadable forms. None of this information is legal advice. While Meskwaki Tribal Court has attempted to make the information contained herein as accurate as possible, information on this website may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Please use the official printed documents for any and/or all legal work. The Meskwaki Tribal Court, its employees, and agents will not be responsible for any loss from the use of or reliance on the information contained on this site.

MESKWAKI TRIBAL COURT

We are closed for business on nov. 22nd (friday)

We are closed for business on nov. 22nd (friday)

We are closed for business on nov. 22nd (friday)

We are closed for business on nov. 22nd (friday)

We are closed for business on nov. 22nd (friday)

We are closed for business on nov. 22nd (friday)

No Jury trial for NOvember

About Us

Meskwaki Tribal Court

Mission Statement

Vision Statement

Announcements

Meskwaki Tribal Court UPDATES

community infoRMATION

Recent Administrative Orders

Video

Legal Disclaimer

Disclaimer