Chief Judge

The Winnebago Tribal Court and Supreme Court are courts of record, having civil and criminal jurisdiction over all causes of action under the jurisdiction of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Judges shall conduct hearings and issue all orders and papers incident thereto, in order to administer justice in all matters within the jurisdiction of the Court. Judges shall take an oath to support and protect the Constitution of the Winnebago Tribe and to administer justice in all causes coming before him/her with integrity and fairness, without regard to the persons before him/her.

Required Qualifications/Skills:

• At least ten (10) years’ experience as a Tribal Judge or practicing Indian law preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Tribal Federal Indian law and policy preferred.
• Extensive experience working in a tribal community preferred.
• Be an attorney or an Indian graduate of an American Bar Association approved law school.
• Demonstrate a moral integrity and fairness is his/her business, public and private life.
• Have no conviction of a felony, whether or not actually imprisoned.
• Have no convictions of any offense, except traffic offenses, for a period of two years preceding his/her appointment. The two-year period shall begin from the date the person was unconditionally released from supervision of any sort as a result of a conviction.
• Have regularly abstained from the excessive use of alcohol and or/ any use whatsoever of illegal drugs or psychotoxic chemical solvents.
• Be at least 25 years of age.
• Not be a member of the Tribal Council, or the holder of any other elected tribal office of this tribe, provided that a candidate who is a member of the Tribal Council, or the holder of some other elective tribal office, may be confirmed as a judge subject to his/her resignation. Upon resignation from his/her office, he/she may be sworn in as and assume the duties of judicial office.

Physical Requirements:

• Normal to light office work which includes the ability to lift up to 10 lbs.
• Regularly required to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods of time and use hands to operate computer keyboard, phone, and various office equipment.
• While performing daily duties, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

Mental Requirements:

• Reading, writing, calculating
• Above average social interaction skills
• Reasoning/Analysis
• Works with minimal to no supervision

Language Requirements:

• Must possess the ability to read, write, and speak the English language fluently.
• Must be able to continually and effectively employ professional verbal and written communications skills.

Specific Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate the Winnebago Tribe’s core mission, vision, and values.
• Hold Court and conduct hearings regularly at a designated time and place.
• Serve for approximately 20 hours per week.
• Issue any writs or orders necessary and proper to the complete exercise of the court jurisdiction, or cause a court to act where such court unlawfully fails to act within its jurisdiction.
• Administer oaths and otherwise undertake all duties and exercise all authority of a judicial officer under the law.
• Hear and decide all cases properly brought before the court.
• Enter all appropriate orders and judgments.
• Keep all court and other records as may be required.
• Oversee jury selection and provide instructions to jurors.
• Comply with the Winnebago Code of Judicial Conduct and all other applicable tribal laws and rules.
• Be responsible for all of the Court’s administration that do not fall under the purview of the Tribal Court Administrator, including but not limited to developing forms for self-represented litigants, developing court policy and local court rules, and representing the Court in external matters.
• These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

$104,000-130,000 annually