MISSION, Ore.- The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has three new associate judges who are already hearing cases.
November 13 started the 10-year terms for Naomi Stacy, Louisa Allman and Matt Johnson. They are all CTUIR members.
Stacy moves into the court after a career as a juvenile justice advocate, tribal prosecutor, teaching assistant, natural resource policy analyst among other titles. Her cases currently include criminal, probation and traffic issues and will develop to hear cases regarding juvenile, family law issues, personal injury matters and appeals.
“My legal career has been dedicated to the sovereign rights of Indian Country,” says Stacy. “That fits well with the court’s mission to exercise the sovereign judicial authority of the Umatilla Tribal Court.”
Allman was appointed as a pro tem judge in August 2022 over child support hearings.
“Having been appointed as an associate judge, my goal is to listen, to answer with respect, to make decisions soberly, and decide impartially,” says Allman.
She’s been in the legal field since she was 15 years old, first volunteering with CTUIR before eventually earing an associate degree in business administration and becoming a certified paralegal.
Allman and Stacy are two of only three female judges for CTUIR, following Lynn W. Hampton in 2011.
The Tribal Court director and judicial assistant is also moving up the ranks with Matt Johnson’s appointment. He will still be working as director while taking cases.
Johnson went to Williamette University for his bachelors in American history before earning a juris doctorate from Lewis and Clark Law School.
“Exercising the Tribe’s sovereign judicial authority and providing tribal members and people on the Umatilla Indian Reservation with access to justice are two of the Court’s critical objectives that I will do my best to fulfill,” he said.
The three associate judges will be hearing cases at the Umatilla Tribal Court at 46411 Timine Way one Mondays and Thursdays. Most cases are open to the public, but cases involving minors will happen on Wednesday mornings and are closed to the public.