Ka-hay! 

Welcome to CrowLaws.org, a website for anyone interested in Crow tribal law. 

This website is intended to be a resource for Crow tribal members, Crow Tribal Court practitioners, and anybody else interested in the law governing the Crow Tribe. 

Thank you for visiting this website and please check back soon for updates.

Last Update: February 6th, 2012 

News and Updates on Crow Tribal Law

January 2012 Regular Session

The Crow Legislature passed two legislative resolutions during the January 2012 quarterly session.

The first resolution was a recommendation to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to appoint William Yellowtail to the National Council for Native American Farmers and Ranchers. 

The second resolution was an establishment of a salary rate for the Legislative Branch Staff Attorney.

These resolutions will be made available on CrowLaws.org soon.

December 15th, 2011 Special Session

The Crow Legislature passed two legislative resolutions during the December 15th, 2011 special session. 

The first resolution was the establishment of a Legislative Branch Staff Attorney position.

The second resolution gave final approval to the land transfer request by the Crow Tribe to the Bureau of Indian Affairs as contained in Tribal Joint Action Resolution 10-01. 

The final approval resolution will be made available on CrowLaws.org soon.

November 21st, 2011 Special Session

The Crow Legislature passed a legislative resolution which modifies the fiscal year 2012 Legislative Branch budget to increase the budget line item titled "salaries" by $16,800 and to reduce the budget line item titled "contracted services" by the same amount.  The measure passed with a 15-0 vote. 

A copy of this resolution will be made available on CrowLaws.org soon.

October 2011 Regular Session

The Crow Legislature passed two bills.  One, sponsored by the Mighty Few District, directs the Executive Branch to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the purpose of investigation and enforcement of federal and tribal eagle protection laws.  The second, sponsored by the Black Lodge District, rescinds CLB 02-17 and would require Legislative Branch final approval on all future waivers of Crow tribal sovereign immunity.

These bills were vetoed by the Executive Branch Chairman Cedric Black Eagle.

Special Session on September 29th

The Crow Legislature passed a bill for the fiscal year 2012 tribal budget, which had been introduced by the Executive Branch Chairman prior to the July 2011 regular session.  The bill has been signed by the Executive Branch Chairman and approved by the Secretary of Interior's designee.  

In addition, the Legislature passed a legislative resolution which denied the confirmation of tribal prosecutor Diane Cabrera.  Crow tribal law (CLB 05-01) requires the tribal prosecutor to be confirmed before taking office.

CrowLaws.org will post these documents as soon as they become available.

Special Session on September 14th

The Crow Legislature passed a legislative resolution which established due process protections for Legislative Branch employees and called upon the Crow Executive Branch to recognize that tribal employment should be considered a property right protected by the due process clause of the 2001 Crow Constitution and the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968.  The resolution also announced that a top priority of the Legislature will be to adopt legislation to amend the Crow Nation Workforce Protection Act to establish a property interest in tribal employment protected by the due process clause.

CrowLaws.org will post this resolution as soon as it becomes available.

Special Session on August 25th

The Crow Legislature passed two legislative resolutions: one which disciplined Senator Two Leggins (Black Lodge) for being found guilty of an alcohol-related offense and one which amended the title of the Treaty Committee of the Legislature to now be be known as the "Treaty Rights and Crow Tribal Cultural Committee," with jurisdiction over the development and review of laws and policies pertaining to Crow tribal culture.

CrowLaws.org will post these resolutions as soon as they become available.

Special Session on July 27th

The Crow Legislature passed a legislative resolution which denied the Executive Branch Chairman's request for a modification to the fiscal year 2011 tribal budget.  Click here for a copy of Legislative Resolution 11-11. 

Crow General Council Meets for First Time in 10 Years

The constitutional governing body of the Crow Tribe, the Crow Tribal General Council, met for the first time in just over ten years on Saturday, July 23rd, 2011 at the Apsaalooke Center ("multi-purpose building") in Crow Agency.  The Council meeting included presentations by the elected Executive Branch officials and various other tribal officials.  The Crow Legislature did not take part in the General Council meeting.

July 2011 Regular Session

CrowLaws.org will make available all legislation passed during the July 2011 regular session as soon as it becomes available.

Special Session on July 5th 

The Crow Legislature passed two legislative resolutions: Legislative Resolution 11-09 calls for a federal investigation into the financial activities of the Executive Branch and Legislative Resolution 11-10 establishes a house rule requiring a written and signed delegation of authority to speak on behalf of the Tribal Chairman concerning pending legislation. 

Special Session on June 29th

The Crow Legislature passed a legislative resolution which modifies the Legislative Branch budget. 

CrowLaws.org will post this resolution as soon as it becomes available.

Tribal Secretary Calls for July 23rd General Council Meeting

For the first time in over ten years, the Crow Tribal General Council appears to be meeting after Tribal Secretary Scott Russell June 28th announcement.  the meeting is scheduled to take place at the Apsaalooke Center (multi-purpose building) from 9:30 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m.  Under the 2001 Constitution, the General Council is supposed to meet twice each year to receive reports from the Executive Branch and Legislature.  No meetings under the 2001 Constitution have ever taken place.

Legislature Files Writ of Mandamus Against Tribal Court Administrator

On June 17th, 2011 the Legislature filed a petition for a writ of mandamus against the Crow tribal court administrator and appellate court clerk Donna Falls Down.  The writ seeks to compel Falls Down to provide a copy of the post-2002 decisions of the Crow Court of Appeals to the Legislature (the public currently does not have access to the decisions). The writ was filed with the Crow Court of Appeals panel assembled for CV 10-346 (Black Eagle v. Legislature, which includes Judge Carolynn Fagan, Judge Heather Corson, and Judge Carrie La Suer). 

Update: the Crow Court of Appeals has not responded to the petition as of August 24th, 2011.  Donna Falls Down is no longer employed with the Crow Judicial Branch and it appears doubtful any response or acknowledgement of the petition from the Appellate Court will be made to the petitioner.

Executive Branch and Legislative Branch Constitutional Disagreements Going to Tribal Court

The Tribal Chairman has sued the Crow Legislature to declare CLB 11-01 (FMA amendments) unconstitutional; Click here for a copy of the lawsuit (CV 11-193), which was filed on June 10th.

Updates: On July 8th, 2011 the Crow Tribal Court, Chief Judge Julie Yarlott presiding, issued a temporary restraining order against the Chairman and the Legislature from enforcing the FMA amendments.  This TRO was issued upon motion by the Chairman (through an amended complaint) seeking a restrainging order against the Legislature, which the Legislature argued violated Rule 9 of the Crow Rules of Civil Procedure (for failure to seek leave of the court to amend a filed complaint).  On July 29th, 2011 Judge Yarlott issued an order consolidating CV 10-346 (Chairman's suit against Legislature to declare CLB 10-02 unconstitutional), CV 11-193, and CV 11-207 (Legislature's petition for a wirt of quo warranto to prevent the Chairman from enacting "Executive Branch resolutions") into one case ruling that the three cases shared "common issues of law or fact."  Judge Yarlott ruled that the Chairman's amended complaint did indeed violate the Crow Rules of Civil Procedure, but the order effectively continued the TRO sua sponte (note: while the TRO only applies to the Executive Branch Chairman, it may be perceived by the Judicial Branch to apply to all officers of the Crow Executive Branch, including the other elected Executive Branch Officials). 

Judge Yarlott's July 29th order also contained language with ordered the parties to negotiate a compromise and, if no settlement is reached, to employ the use of a mediator to facilitate a settlement.

Notably, the Legislature's preemptory arguments of the Chairman's lack of standing and the sovereign immunity of the Legislative Branch never having been waived so as to allow this type of suit were denied by Judge Yarlott.  The parties together on August 9th motioned the lower court for a stay of all deadlines for either party to submit an appeal to the Crow Court of Appeals (which currently does not have a legislatively-confirmed Chief Appellate Judge).

Crow TERO Regulations Are Final

On June 1st, 2011 the Crow Tribal Employment Rights Commission promulgated regulations pursuant to the 2009 Crow Nation Workforce Protection Act.  Please click here for a copy of the regulations.

Chairman's Veto of Joint Action Resolution on Crow Office of Veteran's Affairs

April 2011 Regular Session of the Crow Tribal Legislature 

Crow Agency, Montana --

The April 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature concluded after only two days of business on Wednesday, April 13th with two veto override votes (see: official Legislative Branch press release), a Joint Action Resolution passed which seeks to establish a stronger Crow Office of Veteran's Affairs, and two Legislative Resolutions, one which establishes a Legislative Branch policy for Legislative Branch vehicles and one which expresses to Westmoreland Resources (the owner/operator of the Absaloka Mine) that all Crow workers should be paid fair and just wages, as required by the 2004 Lease Agreement with the Crow Tribe.

Full copies of each legislative item will be available on CrowLaws.org soon.

Crow Tribal General Council Approves Crow-Montana Water Compact and Crow Water Rights Settlement Act 

Crow Indian Reservation, Montana --

With an unofficial vote tally of 2323 in favor and 938 opposed, the enrolled adult members of the Crow Tribe decided on the March 19th Reservation-wide referendum vote to move forward with a water compact between the Tribe, Montana, and United States.

February 22nd Special Session of the Crow Tribal Legislature 

Items passed:

CLB 11-03: A Bill for an Act titled "An Act to Amend the Election Ordinance to Establish and Affirm the Procedures for Tribal Ratification Votes, Including the Crow Tribe-Montana Water Compact and the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlment Act of 2010."  Note: Chairman Black Eagle signed this bill into law.

LR 11-03: A Resolution of the Legislature for the Confirmation of Janine Pease as Cabinet Head of the Crow Tribal Education Department.

LR 11-04: A Resolution of the Legislature to Authorize and Support a Crow Tribal Application for Federal Grant Funding for the Apsaalooke Nation Language Immersion Nests Project.

In Re Matter of Leroy Not Afraid, 2010 MT 285

December 22nd, 2010 

Helena, MT -- Once again, Leroy Not Afraid challenges the bounds of Crow tribal sovereignty and, once again, he proves his case right.  Judge Not Afraid wins before a strong majority of the Montana Supreme Court on the question of whether or not his 2009 campaign for Crow Tribal Chairman violated state law since at the time he was a sitting county justice of the peace.  The Court ruled in Judge Not Afraid's favor.

Congressional Passage of the Crow Water Rights Settlement Act 

Washington, D.C. -- With the U.S. House of Representatives taking action in approval on November 30th, 2010 (the U.S. Senate had previsouly passed the measure), the Congress effectively passes the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, which includes (as Title IV) the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlment Act.  President Obama signed the legislation into law on December 8th.

Crow Tribal Bar Exam Enjoined by Tribal Court through Lawsuit Filed by CrowLaws.org Founder/Editor Jay Harris

Crow Agency -- 

Holding that Eldena Bear Don't Walk did not administer the January 2010 bar exam in a way that was fair on its face and did not grade Harris's exam fairly and impartially, the Crow Tribal Court on June 11th, 2010 enjoined Bear Don't Walk from administering the exam in the future.  As of August 2011 the injunction is still in effect.  Click here for a copy of the order granting a temporary injunction.  

About CrowLaws.org

This website was established with the purpose of providing on-line accessibility for Crow Tribal laws and for increased transparency into the functions of Crow tribal government.

CrowLaws.org is not paid for or administered by the Crow Tribal government and is privately funded and privately administered as a source for public information.

CrowLaws.org will make efforts to feature the following:

• Law important to the Crow Tribe, including case law, statutes, regulations, treaties, compacts and agreements
• The 2001 Crow Constitution and commentary
• Crow tribal statutes (codified in the Crow Law and Order Code) and uncodified legislation
• Crow tribal administrative regulations and Executive orders
• Case law from the Crow Appellate Court

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