Tribal Court

9615 Grand Ronde Rd. Grand Ronde, OR 97347 | Phone: 503-879-2303 | Fax: 503-879-2269 | Email: Court@Grandronde.org 

Tribal Court is available for Notary Services Tuesday and Thursday, by appointment only.  For all notary inquiries and to schedule an appointment, please email court@grandronde.org or call 503-879-2303. 

The Tribal Court's mission is several-fold. The Court must provide to the Tribe, Tribal members, lawyers, and others, a fair and prompt resolution of legal disputes. The Court must interpret the Tribe’s laws and Constitution in resolving these disputes, and lay a foundation for the future interpretation of those laws. The Court must also provide for Tribal members and others access to information about the laws, the Court rules and procedures, and, in so doing, make it as easy and as comfortable as possible for the use of the Court. The Court has several peripheral missions, all of which include involvement of, and attention to, Tribal members and their needs, including the establishment of dispute resolution procedures such as settlement and mediation, the Tribal member review of Tribal children who are wards of the Court, the development and use of self-help handbooks for Court use, and such services. In all ways, the Court's mission is to be helpful, compassionate, and efficient in the administration of the Tribal Court system.

Tribal Court Published Opinions and Ordinances

Tribal Court Contact Information:

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Tribal Court
9615 Grand Ronde Rd.
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
 
Phone: 503-879-2303
Fax: 503-879-2269

Commonly Filed Cases:

The Tribal Court files and processes a variety of cases. Please refer to Tribal Court Ordinances to determine if a particular issue can be filed and reviewed by the Court.

FAMILY LAW

  • Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Divorce
  • Name Changes for Adults and Children
  • Termination of Parental Rights
  • Private Adoptions
  • Legal Guardianships
  • Emancipation

JUDICIAL REVIEW ON RECORD TYPE CASES

  • Review of Enrollment Decisions
  • Review of Housing Authority Decisions
  • Review of Fish & Wildlife Decisions Regarding License Revocations
  • Review of Gaming Commission License Denials

OTHER

  • Tort Cases
  • Small Claims Cases
  • Election Contests
  • Employment Cases

COURT PERSONNEL

Chief Judge: Patrick S. Melendy

Appellate Court Judge: Robert Miller

Appellate Court Judge: Patricia Paul

Appellate Court Judge: Patricia Davis

Court Administrator: Shawn M. Branson

Court Operations Supervisor: Julie Boekhoff

Court Operations Coordinator: Katherine Ljungqvist

Court Programs Coordinator: Janelle Justen

Tribal Court Programs

The Tribal Court has a number of programs designed to assist Tribal Members and the general public. 

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Forms

The Tribal Court has developed court information packets and forms for many of the most commonly filed cases in Tribal Court. The packets and forms are not a complete statement of the law. The packets and forms are provided for convenience. It is always best to seek legal assistance when filing with the Court.

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Tribal Court Rules & Fees

The Tribal Court has adopted by promulgation, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Rules of the U.S. District Court of the District of Oregon, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure for the Ninth Circuit, and Federal Rules of Evidence.

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Jurisdiction

The Tribal Court shall be empowered to exercise all judicial authority of the Tribe.

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