Building On Common Ground
In July, 1991, the Conference of Chief Justices hosted a national conference
in Seattle. Attended by tribal and state court judges, attorneys general, and
court administrators from around the country, the Conference continued the
Committee's mission of educating target audiences about the nature of
jurisdictional conflicts, and promoting discussion and mediation designed to
find common ground for resolution of these conflicts. Representatives from 22
states developed action plans directed toward reducing conflicts in their home
states.
A national leadership
conference was held in Santa Fe in September, 1993, in which tribal, state, and
federal leaders from throughout the United States met to develop a national
agenda for improvement of working relations between tribal, state, and federal
judicial systems.
In 2005, Walking on Common Ground provided an opportunity to address the progress that had been made since 1993. The discussions opened the door to discussions leading to recommendations for further enhancements of the justice systems.
In December, 2008 tribal, state, and federal courts will again convene to discuss challenges and successes. The gathering will focus on ways to overcome challenges that still impede communication and the efficient administration of justice.
Event Reports
The quick links on this page include publications that resulted from the previous gatherings. The information link will provide an overview of the upcoming event, Walking on Common Ground: Continuing Pathways to Equal Justice.
Tribal-State Forums and Working Groups
Several states maintain ongoing forums or working groups to meet the needs of their judicial systems. The quick link for Additional Resources includes documents related to forums and working groups.