Martha Montour Reappointed to Judicial Oversight Commission

May 18, 2017

AKWESASNE — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is pleased to announce that Martha Montour has been reappointed for another three (3) year term on the Tribe’s Judicial Oversight Commission.

With the signing of Tribal Council Resolution (TCR) 2017-28 on Onerahtohkó:wa/May 8, 2017, Montour continues her work with the other two commissioners: Kurt Fetter and Penny Coleman. Their mandate is to ensure compliance with established standards of judicial behavior for all tribal judges as set forth in the Judicial Code of Conduct.

“I wish to thank the Tribal Council and the community for their support as evidenced by this renewal of my reappointment for a third time and entrusting me with such important work. Since my initial appointment in 2012 and along with the other two commissioners, I have worked to promote the integrity and honour of the Tribal Court system by the provision of a forum for concerns and complaints regarding the tribal judges, but at same time to protect their independence in judicial decision making,” stated Commissioner Martha Montour.

Commissioner Montour is a member of the Mohawks of Kahnawake and a graduate of the National Law Program of McGill University. Since 1990, she is a member of the Quebec Bar and New York State Bar Association. She has more than 25 years of experience in Native American law and litigation and now practices alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation for family and community matters. She is a part-time member of the Quebec Police Ethics Committee and hears complaints by citizens regarding native police officers in Quebec.

In 2008, the Tribal Council adopted and ratified a Tribal Court and Judiciary Code through TCR 2008-22 that vested the judicial power of the Tribe in the judicial branch of the tribal government; which currently consists of a Traffic Court, Civil Court, Healing to Wellness/Drug Court and an Appellate Court. In 2012, a Judicial Oversight Commission was established with the signing of TCR 2011-44 to oversee the judicial system and ensure compliance with an established standard of judicial behavior for tribal judges.

“The Tribal Council is proud of the progress our tribal court has made and the recognition it receives from outside court systems and agencies,” stated Tribal Chief Eric Thompson (J.D., ’00) on behalf of the Tribal Council. “We continue to exercise our collective right to govern ourselves and our relations with each other, as well as to utilize our oversight bodies to hold ourselves accountable. I thank the Judicial Oversight Commission for their ongoing support of the tribal court system and for helping ensure the community’s trust remains strong.”

To download and view the Rules of Procedures of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Commission on Judicial Conduct, click here.

PHOTO CAPTION: Martha Montour (center) rejoins Penny Coleman and Kurt Fetter for a three-year term on the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Judicial Oversight Commission, who help ensure the public’s confidence in the integrity and honor of tribal judges continues to be preserved.

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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People.