Funmaker v. Jones

1 Am. Tribal Law 223
CourtHo-Chunk Nation Trial Court
DecidedNovember 26, 1997
DocketNo. CV 97-72
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 1 Am. Tribal Law 223 (Funmaker v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Funmaker v. Jones, 1 Am. Tribal Law 223 (hochunkct 1997).

Opinion

[225]*225ORDER (Granting Motion to Dismiss)

MARK BUTTERFIELD, Chief Judge.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 9, 1997, plaintiff filed this lawsuit against a class of defendants composed of fifty-nine tribal members alleging two causes of action: solicitation to commit a felony and conversion of tribal property. JoAnn Jones through her attorneys Frank Tuerkheimer, James Friedman and Melanie Cohen filed a response on June 2, 1997. Several defendants filed responses individually, including Eugene Topping (05/16/97), William Hall (05/23/97), Pamela Kingswan (05/23/97), Tracy Thundercloud (05/28/97). The remaining defendants, who agreed to a group defense represented by Jeff Scott Olson and became known as the “Blue Wing defendants,” filed a response on May 29, 1997. Forrest Blackdeer, Chuck Smith, and Carlos Funmaker decided to represent themselves in the matter, with Mr. Smith filing a response on June 2, 1997, and Mr. Blackdeer and Mr. Funmaker on September 17, 1997. Defendant John Climer filed a response on June 4, 1997.

On May 29, 1997, defendant JoAnn Jones filed a Motion-to Dismiss the claims against her. On August 27, in response, to [226]*226Motions to Stay Discovery filed by Jeff Scott Olson and Frank Tuerkheimer, the Court issued an Order Granting Stay of Discovery. On September 10, 1997 the Court convened a Scheduling Hearing to address deadlines for further Motions and briefs as well as set a date for oral arguments. At this Hearing, as a result of unsuccessful service to numerous defendants, the plaintiff agreed to dismiss those not provided notice from the suit, including Jerome Cloud, Hilton Vasquez, John S. Cloud, Roger Snake, J.W. Holst, and Lionel Cloud. Also on September 10, 1997 the Court approved an optional group defense for those without counsel to fall under Jeff Scott Olson’s representation and sent notice to all defendants informing of their options. On October 3, 1997, the “Blue Wing defendants,” a majority of the remaining class members, also filed a Motion to Dismiss. The Trial Court convened a Hearing on November 12, 1997 to hear oral arguments and consider the defendants’ Motions to Dismiss. Appearances were as follows: Mark Goodman for the plaintiff Steven Funmaker, James Friedman and Melanie Cohen on behalf of defendant JoAnn Jones, and Jeff Scott Olson on behalf of the “Blue Wing defendants,” with Chief Judge Butterfield presiding, assisted by Clerk of Court Marcella Cloud.

APPLICABLE LAW

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. I— Territory and Jurisdiction

Section 1. Territory. The territory of the Ho-Chunk Nation shall include all lands held by the Nation or the People, or by the United States for the benefit of the Nation or the People, and any additional lands acquired by the Nation or by the United States for the benefit of the Nation or the people, including but not limited to air, water, surface, subsurface, natural resources and any interest therein, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent or right-of-way in fee or otherwise, by the governments of the United States or the Ho-Chunk Nation, existing or in the future.

Section 2. Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Ho-Chunk Nation shall extend to all territory set forth in Section 1 of this Article and to any and all persons or activities therein, based upon the inherent sovereign authority of the Nation and the People or upon Federal law.

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. V—Legislature

Section 2. Powers of the Legislature. The Legislature shall have the power:

(a) To make laws, including codes, ordinances, resolutions, and statutes;

(x) To enact any other laws, ordinances, resolutions, and statutes necessary to exercise its legislative powers delegated by the General Council pursuant to Article 111 including but not limited to the foregoing list of powers.

Section 3. Codes. The Legislature shall adopt Codes governing Membership, Open Meetings, Elections, Ethics including conflicts of interest, nepotism, and the conduct of all elected and appointed officials and employees, and other Codes as deemed necessary.

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. VII— Judiciary

Section 4. Powers of the Judiciary. The judicial power of the Ho-Chunk Nation shall be vested in the Judiciary. The Judiciary shall have the power to interpret and apply the Constitution and laws of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

Section 5. Jurisdiction of the Judiciary.

[227]*227(a) The Trial Court shall have original jurisdiction over all cases and controversies, both criminal and civil, in law or in equity, arising under the Constitution, laws, customs and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation, including cases in which the Ho-Chunk Nation, or its officials and employees, shall be a party. Any such case or controversy arising within the jurisdiction of the Ho-Chunk Nation shall be filed in Trial Court before it is filed in any other court. This grant of jurisdiction by the General Council shall not be construed to be a waiver of the Nation’s sovereign immunity.

Section 6. Powers of the Tribal Court

(a) The Trial Court shall have the power to make findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Trial Court shall have the power to issue all remedies in law and in equity including injunctive and declaratory relief and all writs including attachment and mandamus.

(b) The Trial Court shall have the power to declare the laws of the Ho-Chunk Nation void if such laws are not in agreement with this Constitution.

Ho-Chunk Nation Judiciary Act of 1995

Section 2. Jurisdiction. The Ho-Chunk Judiciary shall exercise jurisdiction over all matters within the power and authority of the Ho-Chunk Nation including controversies arising out of the Constitution of the Ho-Chunk Nation; laws, statutes, ordinances, resolutions and codes enacted by the Legislature; and such other matters arising under enactments of the Legislature or the customs and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation. This jurisdiction extends over the Nation and its territory, persons who enter its territory, its members, and persons who interact with the Nation or its members wherever found.

Section 3. Rules and Procedure. Proceedings of the Judiciary shall be conducted in a public place suitable for the purpose, but not necessarily in Ho-Chunk territory. Decisions of the Judiciary shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the parties. The Judiciary shall keep a complete and permanent record of all proceedings and decisions. Absent protective orders granted for good cause or Legislative enactments to the contrary, these records shall be open to the public.

The Judiciary shall have exclusive authority and responsibility to employ personnel and to establish written rules and procedures governing the use and operation of the courts.

All matters shall be tried in accordance with the Ho-Chunk Rules of Procedure and the Ho-Chunk Rules of Evidence which shall be written by the Supreme Court, published, and available to the Public.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiff is an enrolled adult member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

2.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1 Am. Tribal Law 223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/funmaker-v-jones-hochunkct-1997.