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.
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.
Angelica Diaz is the Clerk of Court for the Meskwaki Tribal Court and she also serves as the Clerk of Appellate Court.
Angelica has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Political Science-Cum Laude from Iowa State University. She has previous legal experience at Dawson County Court in Lexington, Nebraska, where she is from.
She is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Angelica is passionate about using her skills to helping out people and to strengthen communities.
She looks forward to learning and growing in this new position.
D. Suzanne (Wanatee) Buffalo is a 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 is a member of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, the Meskwaki Nation.
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. 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. She previously served a 4-year term on the Iowa Commission of Native American Affairs. Presently she is serving as a member of the Field Museum Native Advisory Committee, in Chicago, Illinois.
Suzanne received an Advanced Office Administration Certificate from the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Adult Vocational Program in Las Vegas, Nevada, afterwards working in the field of advertising and public relations. Since moving back home to Iowa over 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.
adminast.court@meskwakicourt.org
Linda Morgan is a Deputy Clerk and is an enrolled member of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa—Meskwaki Nation.
She assists the Clerk of Court staff with administrative tasks, data entry, and reception duties. She has worked in various capacities for the Meskwaki Nation. Her focus in college was Business Administration.
kpushetonequa@meskwakicourt.org
Kiyanna Pushetonequa is the Records Management Clerk and an enrolled tribal member of the Meskwaki Nation and a descendant of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
Kiyanna graduated from the Meskwaki High School and has since worked for the Meskwaki Nation for over 5 years. She enjoys being able to help out her community in many ways.
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