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The Hopland Tribal Court was established by Ordinance 01-07-10 on July 10, 2001.  In this Ordinance, the
Hopland Tribal Council found and declared the following in Section 1:

  1. Public Law 280, 28 U.S.C. §1360, did not divest the Tribe of its inherent sovereign authority to
    establish and operate its own judicial system.
  2. The Courts of the State of California lack jurisdiction over many civil disputes and criminal acts
    that occur on the Tribe’s Reservation.
  3. The establishment of a Tribal Court that can exercise jurisdiction over civil disputes and
    criminal acts occurring on the Tribe’s Reservation, particularly those disputes and acts that
    the courts of the State of California lack jurisdiction over, is necessary to maintain peace and
    order on the Hopland Indian Reservation (“Reservation”)
  4. The adoption of this ordinance promotes the health and safety of the members of the Tribe, is
    in the best interests of the members of the Tribe and furthers the administration of justice on
    the Reservation.

In the following years additional ordinances were established which grant the Tribal Court jurisdiction over
specific matters, such as small claims, name changes, etc. To view the current ordinances please follow the
links on the left side of this page.

The Court received start-up funding from the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Tribal
Courts Assistance Program Grant in 2003.   In 2004, while court planning was underway, a conflict in the
Tribe's Constution halted all court plans, development and opening until a vote of the general membership
could amend the constitution.  In September of 2006, following a vote of the tribe's general membership, the
Tribe hired a Court Clerk and contracted with a Chief Judge.



Application for Admission to Practice                       Housing Packet for Plaintiff                      

Housing Packet for Defendant                                 Name Change Packet              

Request for Payment Arrangments                           Petition to Review Decision of Gaming Commission  

Proof of Service by Mail                                         Small Claims Packet for Plaintiff                               

Small Claims Packet for Defendant   



Rules of Pleading, Practice and Procedure                                       Rules Governing Attorney Conduct

Rules of Evidence




Administrative Procedure          Divorce Ordinance *COMING SOON*               Establishing Tribal Court

Gaming Commission 96-08           Marriage Ordinance                                    Name Change        

Procedure for Obtaining Possession of Tribal Trust Land (Evictions)                Small Claims

Youth Protection Curfew
    HOPLAND BAND OF POMO INDIANS
    P.O. Box 533, Hopland, CA 95449 Tel: (707) 744-1647 Fax: (707) 472-2112 E-mail: court@hoplandtribe.com
    HOPLAND TRIBAL COURT
    BRIEF HISTORY
    FORMS
    ORDINANCES GRANTING JURISDICTION TO TRIBAL COURT
    WELCOME!
To contact the webmaster to report missing links or for questions/comments, please click here.
            COURT RULES
Thank you for visiting the Hopland Tribal Court Website. The purpose of this site is to provide
the Hopland Tribal members, community and visitors information regarding the history, purpose
and future of the Hopland Tribal Court. Please contact us at the above mailing address or e-mail
address with any questions or comments.  
DEPARTMENTS: