Court Staff

ABOUT THE COURT STAFF

The Clerk's Office performs various jobs and duties for the Tribal Trial Court, Court of Appeals, the attorney bar, and the public. It is responsible for filing cases, briefs, motions, petitions, and other documents that are presented to the courts for decision. Once the decisions have been made, the staff is also responsible for disseminating the opinions, orders, and per curiam orders to the press, attorneys, trial court judges, and the public. The office provides information and guidance to judges, attorneys, and the public about appellate practice and the appellate process. The Court Administrator is the financial officer of the courts and the office provides payroll and other fiscal services for the personnel of the Court.

Meet the court staff

Joy Mauskemo - Court Administrator

Joy Mauskemo - Interim Clerk of Court/Clerk of Appellate Court

Joy R. Mauskemo is the Court Administrator for the Meskwaki Tribal Court. She was previously the Clerk of the Trial Court and the Clerk of the Appellate Court. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services and in Psychology from Buena Vista University, and holds a Masters Degree in Legal Studies from Washington University St. Louis School of Law.

Joy has an Advanced Tribal Court Clerk's Certification; is certified through the Department of Justice for the National Crime information Center (Tribal Access Program); and is certified by the Iowa Department of Corrections to teach the ACTV (Achieving Change Through Value-Based Behavior) program. She was recently appointed to serve a term on the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Joy has worked for the Meskwaki Tribe for ten years, formerly with Child Support Services and the Settlement School.

Joy Mauskemo - Interim Clerk of Court/Clerk of Appellate Court

Suzanne Buffalo- Senior Deputy Clerk of Court

Joy Mauskemo - Interim Clerk of Court/Clerk of Appellate Court

Suzanne Buffalo- Senior Deputy Clerk of Court

D. Suzanne (Wanatee) Buffalo is the Senior Deputy Clerk at Meskwaki Tribal Court where she has worked for justice services since 2007. Suzanne has an Advanced Tribal Court Clerk’s Certification; is NCIC certified by the Department of Justice.; and is certified by the Iowa Department of Corrections to teach the ACTV (Achieving Change Through Value-Based Behavior) program.

She previously served two terms on the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa from 2015 – 2021, and she presently serves on the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Suzanne is a member of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa – the Meskwaki Nation.

In 2014, Suzanne began serving on the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist’s Indian Advisory Council as a member. She has continually served on the NAGPRA Repatriation Committee for the Meskwaki Historical Preservation Department since 1995.

Suzanne received an Advanced Office Administration Certificate from the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Adult Vocational Program in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she worked in the field of advertising and public relations. Since moving back home to Iowa thirty years ago, she has worked in a variety of roles for tribal government and for tribal businesses in professional as well as in volunteer or committee capacities.