Organization:
The Washoe Tribe’s Legal Department houses the attorneys for the Washoe Tribal Council, its departments, and programs; and provides legal representation on all matters affecting the Washoe Tribe as directed by the Council.   As the Council’s attorneys, much of the work of the Department is confidential and therefore not subject to public disclosure; however the Department attempts to provide Tribal Members with available non-confidential information if possible and consistent with its responsibilities to the Council.

The Legal Department currently has three full-time staff:  General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, and Administrative Assistant II.  Since September 2008, the General Counsel position has been filled by Lynelle Hartway; and Suzanne Garcia has served as Assistant General Counsel since July of 2008.  Careen Sibbring is the Department’s Administrative Assistant and also edits the Tribe’s monthly newsletter.

Purpose & Function:
Generally, the Department performs various daily activities on behalf of the Tribe as represented by the Tribal Council, including:

- Advocating for the Tribe in governmental meetings and in legal proceedings,
- Defending the Tribe’s interests and trust assets,
- Conducting and participating in negotiations, such as inter-governmental agreements with Federal, State, and local governments,
- Drafting and revising Tribal ordinances, regulations, procedures, protocols, plans, policies, and codes, in addition to reviewing all procurement contracts,
- Working cooperatively with Tribal Departments and Programs on Tribal-wide initiatives such as economic development.

Over the last few years, the Legal Department has assisted the Tribe with:

- Finalization of a Mutual Aid Agreement between the Tribe, Douglas County, and Carson City to improve the cooperation and effectiveness of law enforcement.  More recently, though the Tribe has so far been unable to continue its agreement with Douglas County, an updated MOA was recently re-approved between the Tribe and Carson City.
- The defense of Washoe Aboriginal lands, particularly in the case involving the Forest Service’s plan for usage of Cave Rock.
- Streamlining the contract procedures and protocols for speedier internal processing.
- Gaining grant funding to modernize and revise the Law & Order Code for more concise interpretation and to support economic development on the Tribe’s lands.
- Revising the Procurement Policies to protect Tribal assets.
- Developing a plan for implementation of the federal Adam Walsh Act’s requirements for a Tribal sex offender registry.
- Creating an Elder Justice network pursuant to an Elder Justice Community Collaborations Grant.

Strategic Planning:
In 2008, the Washoe Tribal Council and its departments and programs went through a strategic planning process, including a “visioning” of Tribal long and short term goals.  The Legal Department’s goals and their status are as follows:

Complete revisions and updates to the Tribe’s Law & Order Codes (e.g., Law & Order Code, Enrollment Code, Hunting & Fishing Code, Water Code, etc.) by 2009. 

This goal is ongoing, with the Department receiving a federal grant to complete parts of the review and updates.  So far, the Department has received Council approval of an updated Hunting & Fishing Code as well as approval of a new Title 31, the Tribe’s Sex Offender Registry Ordinance.  Other Codes will be updated and/or created this year.

Complete planning and preparedness for amending the Constitution and By-Laws of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California in 2008.

Creation of the Washoe Tribe Land Conservancy in 2008.

This goal was not completed within 2008.  The creation of a Conservancy, whose purpose would be to raise funds to preserve and protect Washoe aboriginal lands remains a high priority and will be worked on by the Department in 2009.

For 2009, the Department has an additional strategic goal of implementing an Administration for Native Americans Grant, which provides for the drafting of new or updated Code provisions designed to assist the Tribe and its members in the creation of a sound economy within Washoe Indian Country.
 
Other goals of the Legal Department include:

- Make the Law & Order Code available on the Tribe’s Website.
- Continue to assist in the acquisition of more lands within Washoe Aboriginal Homelands and work to protect the Tribe’s water and environment.
- Continue to review all procurement contracts and all agreements with the Tribe to protect Tribal assets and ensure compliance with the policies and procedures of the Tribe.
- Continued participation in consultation meetings with local area governments, inter-governmental meetings, and in public meetings.
- Advancing the Tribe’s economic development opportunities.