RÉSUMÉ
EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENT, TRIBAL JUDICIAL SKILLS
National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada, 2009-2011
LL.M. COMPARATIVE LAW (cum laude)
University of San Diego, 1997-1998
LL.B. (cum laude)
University of Ottawa, 1989-1992
B.A. PSYCHOLOGY (magna cum laude)
University of Ottawa, 1988-1989
B.SC. BIOLOGY (cum laude)University of Ottawa, 1985-1988
MEMBERSHIPS
BAR OF THE MORONGO TRIBAL COURT
Admitted 2011
BAR OF THE CHEMEHUEVI TRIBAL COURT
Admitted 2007
THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
Admitted 1999
BARREAU DU QUÉBEC (the Bar for the Province of Quebec)
Admitted 1998
THE LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA (the Bar for the Province of Ontario)
Admitted 1995- Inactive as of 2018
JUDICIAL POSITIONS
REDDING RANCHERIA TRIBAL COURT, APPELLATE COURT
Appellate Judge, April 2015 - Present
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Temporary Judge, August 2011 - Present
INTERTRIBAL COURT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Pro Tem Judge, April 2010 - Present
SAN MANUEL TRIBAL COURT
Chief Judge, December 2008 – March 2010
EXPERIENCE
LAW OFFICES OF JOANNE WILLIS NEWTON, APC
Owner/President, October 2005 - Present
I have a general practice with a specialization in federal Indian law and juvenile dependency appeals, which I initially operated as a sole practitioner and, since May 2007, now operate as the Law Offices of Joanne Willis Newton, a Professional Corporation. My clients have included tribal agencies, including tribal gaming commissions and a tribal health clinic, as well as Tribes and individuals in matters involving federal Indian law and/or state law. I am a panel attorney with Appellate Defenders, Inc. and in that capacity represent parents and children in juvenile dependency appeals. I also have continued to provide legal services to various First Nations entities in Quebec. In addition to providing legal services for clients, I also provide community education services, with a particular focus on trainings relating to the U.S. Indian Child Welfare Act for attorneys, judges, social workers and other tribal and county representatives.
CALIFORNIA INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES
Directing Attorney, July 2003 - November 2004
Senior Staff Attorney, 2001 – September 2005
Staff Attorney, August 1998 - 2000
As a staff attorney, I provided legal services to California Tribes and Native American individuals, including: legal research and analysis of Native law issues relating to environmental protection, child welfare, cultural resource protection, self-government, education rights, gaming, etc. drafting related legal memoranda, pleadings, contracts, by-laws, ordinances and resolutions litigation, including appellate experience negotiation client interviews and community education. As Directing Attorney, I managed the entire staff of the Escondido office, which included more than a dozen employees at one time. In addition to supervising the day-to-day administrative matters involved in operating the office, I actively managed the legal work in the office through case reviews, case acceptance meetings, mentoring junior attorneys, and directly supervising our intake system. I was also responsible for networking with other legal services and for client development, while maintaining the full caseload of a staff attorney.
JAMES BAY CREE CULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER
Corporate Secretary, January 1996-August 1997
I was responsible for: researching corporate records and applicable legislation drafting by-laws, resolutions and minutes updating and maintaining corporate records organizing meetings preparing briefs and consultations with directors and staff.
Administrative Assistant/Researcher, 1986-1995I assisted the Executive Director in the general administration of the Center and worked on specific projects, including: archival research cataloguing reference materials authored and designed three children’s books drafted declaration of Cree Language Rights and copyright contract and edited and designed Cree Language Study.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA, CANADIAN FIREARMS CENTER
Core Materials Writer, January 1997 - April 1998
I specialized in legal and Aboriginal issues, developing core training materials on the Firearms Act and its regulations for those involved in the administration, implementation and enforcement of the legislation. Analyst, Aboriginal Issues Unit, April - December 1996 I worked on consultations with Aboriginal communities on the implementation of the Firearms Act and the development of Aboriginal regulations under the Act and assisted counsel with developing regulations and resolving other legal issues.
DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT Researcher/Writer, 1994-1996
I drafted chapters of a policy manual dealing with the management of reserve lands, which also involved extensive research of applicable policy and law and consultations with departmental staff.
NAHWEGAHBOW, HAWKEN
Researcher/Writer, 1995
I provided legal research and writing services, as an independent contractor, in respect of various files relating to the affairs of the Wemindji, Chisasibi and Whapmagoostui Cree Nations.
CREE SCHOOL BOARD
Researcher/Writer, 1993-95
I revised the existing general by-law of the Board and drafted a new by-law concerning delegation of powers, which involved extensive research of applicable laws, collective agreements and internal documents as well as consultations with senior and management staff and presentations to the Council of Commissioners. I also wrote a report on the history of formal Cree education, covering the period up until the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement in 1974.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANADA
Articling Student, 1993-94
I articled (clerked) in four sections of the Department, including Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Legal Services, the Administrative Law Section, Civil Litigation, and the Human Rights Law Section. This work involved legal research, analysis and writing, as well as observing counsel before various court proceedings, negotiations, interviews and other meetings.
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA LEGAL AID SOCIETY
Member of Landlord Tenant Division, 1991-92
Under counsel’s supervision, I interviewed clients, provided legal advice, managed files, drafted legal documents, negotiated settlements and performed the groundwork for the establishment of a new division serving Native clientele.
OTHER BACKGROUND, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
• citizen of the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, the U.S. and Canada
• panel attorney with Appellate Defenders, Inc. since December 2005
• President of the Board of Directors of California Indian Law Association from October 2007 – October 2009 and member of the Board of Directors from 2005-2010
• member of the San Diego County Bar Association and California Indian Law Association