Lone Tree v. Garvin

1 Am. Tribal Law 189
CourtHo-Chunk Nation Trial Court
DecidedSeptember 26, 1997
DocketNo. CV 97-133
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1 Am. Tribal Law 189 (Lone Tree v. Garvin) 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
Lone Tree v. Garvin, 1 Am. Tribal Law 189 (hochunkct 1997).

Opinion

[190]*190JUDGMENT (Denying Petition for Stay and Temporary Restraining Order)

JOAN GREENDEER-LEE, Associate Judge.

INTRODUCTION

Before the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court and the Honorable Joan Greendeer-Lee, the parties in the above-named proceeding offered oral ai’guments on September 25, 1997. Appearing on behalf of the plaintiff was Attorney Mark Goodman and on behalf of the defendants Attorney William Boulware from the Ho-Chunk Nation [hereinafter HCN] Department of Justice. On September 19, 1997, the plaintiff filed the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Stay and the Petition for Temporary Restraining Order and, Injunction. The plaintiff moved the Court on the Motion for Immediate Hearing on September 19, 1997. Upon review of the merits of the plaintiffs request and as outlined in her affidavit attached to the Motion for Immediate Hearing, this Court granted and heard oral arguments on the plaintiffs Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Stay. This Order memorializes the decision of the Court based on the oral arguments offered during the September 25,1997 hearing.

[191]*191PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This is a constitutional challenge to the authority of the HCN Legislature to remove its own members. The plaintiff Diane Lone Tree, a HCN Legislator representing Area V, was removed on September 3, 1997 as a result of actions by the defendants, herein named in their individual capacities, who all serve as legislators for the Ho-Chunk Nation in various districts. Ms. Lone Tree was in the middle of a four-year term having been elected in June 1995. The plaintiff seeks a stay and temporary restraining order from this Court to prevent a Special Election scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 1997 for two Area V At-Large seats vacated as a result of plaintiffs removal and the recent voluntary resignation of another Area V Legislator.

APPLICABLE LAW

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. Ill

§ 1. Sovereignty. The Ho-Chunk Nation possesses inherent sovereign powers by virtue of self-government and democracy.

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Akt. VII

§ 5. Jurisdiction of the Judiciary, (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 the 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.

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. VII

§ 6. Poivers of the Trial 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 equitable relief and all writs including attachment and mandamus.

Ho-chunk Nation Constitution, Art. IX

§ 3. Legislative Removal of Legislators. The Legislature may remove a member of the Legislature for good cause. Any member of the Legislature subject to removal shall be informed of the charges, be given adequate notice of the impending removal action, and given an opportunity to prepare and present a defense including presenting witnesses and other evidence. An affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the entire Legislature shall be required for all Legislative removal actions under this Section. The Legislator subject to removal shall not vote.
§ 10. Vacancies in the Legislature. If a vacancy occurs in the Legislature because of death, mental or physical incapacity, removal or recall vote, resignation, felony conviction, or for any other reason, such vacancy shall be filled in the following manner:
(a) If three (3) months or more remain before the next General Election, the Election Board shall call a Special Election in the appropriate District to be held within thirty (30) days.

Ho Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. XII

§ 1. Immunity of Nation from Suit. The Ho-Chunk Nation shall be immune from suit except to the extent that the Legislature expressly waives its sovereign immunity, and officials and employ[192]*192ees of the Ho-Chunk Nation acting within the scope of their duties or authority shall be immune from suit.

Ho-Chunk Nation Constitution, Art. XII

§ 2. Suit Against Officials and Employees. Officials and employees of the Ho-Chunk Nation who act beyond the scope of their duties or authority shall be subject to suit in equity only for declaratory and non-monetary injunctive relief in Tribal Court by persons subject to its jurisdiction for purposes of enforcing rights and duties established by this constitution or other applicable laws.

Ho-Chunk Nation Judiciary Act of 1995

§ 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.

Ho-Chunk Nation Election Ordinance 12 HCO § 1.01 to § 9.01

Art. XIV. Sec. 14.01 Challenges to the Election Results.
(a)The results of an election may be challenged in accordance with Article VIII, Section 7 of the Constitution which states:
Section. 7 Challenges of Election Results. Any member of the Ho-Chunk Nation may challenge the results of any election by filing suit in the Trial Court within ten (10) days after the Election Board certifies the election results. The Trial Court shall hear and decide a challenge to any election within twenty (20) days after the challenge is filed in the Trial Court.
(b) The person challenging the election results shall prove by clear and convincing evidence that the Election Board violated the Election Ordinance or otherwise conducted an unfair election, and that the outcome of the election could have been different.
(c) If the Trial Court invalidates the election results, a new election shall be held as soon as possible.
Art. XVII. Sec. 17.01 Vacancies.
(c) Vacancies in the Legislature shall be filled in accordance with Article IX, Section 10 of the Constitution which states:
Section 10. Vacancies in the Legislature.

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Related

Hopinkah v. Ho-Chunk Nation Election Board
1 Am. Tribal Law 256 (Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1 Am. Tribal Law 189, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lone-tree-v-garvin-hochunkct-1997.