The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota appears to be in a judicial crisis.

The tribe's judicial board plans to impeach Chief Judge Madonna Marcellais, Judge Andrew Laverdure and Clerk of Court Jolene House. They are being accused of incompetence for alleged failings in case management.

“We have had complaints about a dysfunctional judicial system for years,” Judicial Board Chair Nikki LaFloe said in a statement to The Bismarck Tribune.

But the tribal council said the judicial board might be overreaching. Attorney Richard Monette, a former chairman, said the impeachment process still requires council approval.

Get the Story:
Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation's judicial board calls tribal judges incompetent (The Durango Herald 4/16)
Turtle Mountain Judicial Board wants to impeach officials (The Bismarck Tribune 4/16)