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Siletz News II
January, 1990
Chief Judge Hired
John Roe, tribal member from Vancouver, Wash
ington, was named Siletz Tribal Court Chief Judge on
November 20, 1989. Roe assumed duties in early
December, after completing work as a member of the
STEDCO Task Force.
The Tribal Court had been without a principal
judge since June when former Chief Judge Martin Henner
resigned under pressure from the Tribal Council.
Tribal Council's choice of Roe as Chief Judge is
the third such appointment in the post-restoration era.
For Roe, the appointment marks the second time that he
has been Chief Judge. His first term (1984-1988) ended
when Roe resigned because of family responsibilities.
Roe identified the creation of a law-and-order
ordinance to cover people living in the new reservation
housing and the streamlining of judicial procedures and
practices as likely areas in which the Court will see some
changes.
"It would be a big improvement," Roe added, "if
there could be an advocate for some persons before the
Court who are now unrepresented," The problem now,
according to Roe, is that judges sometimes are forced to
ask too many questions.
"It's tough for a judge to ask questions of the
parties ,and witnesses without appearing to being a pro
ponent o f one side or the other," Roe said.
A licensed Oregon attorney and graduate of Lewis
The Siletz News II is a quarterly report de
voted to news, history and current affairs of the Con
federated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon.
Owned and operated by the Siletz Free Press,
Inc., the Siletz News / / is typeset in Eugene, Oregon
using Aldus Pagemaker software on a Macintosh SE
computer. Subscriptions (1 year/four issue) can be
bought on a sliding scale of $2-20 for individuals and
$25.00 for institutions. Make checks payable to
Siletz Free Press, Inc.
Editor/Writer
Andrew Viles
Siletz tribal members wishing a complimen
tary copy of SiletzNewsII need only to forward their
addresses to Siletz News II, Subscription Depart
ment, PO Box 152, Alvadore, OR 97409.
and Clark College's Northwestern School of Law, Roe
also works as a judge for the Northwest Intertribal Court
System.
"I've sat as both a tribal court judge and also as an
appellate court judge for the Chehalis Tribe, the
Skokomish, the Upper Skagit, Tulalip, Hoh, Quileute,
Nooksak and possibly others," Roe said. Roe has also
served as judge pro-tem of The Suquamish and Quinalt
nations.
Does being a STEDCO Commissioner and Tribal
Court Chief Judge raise a question of conflicting inter
ests?
Roe answered that his "stated intent at the time I
was appointed Chief Judge was to resign from STEDCO.
But because of the problems at STEDCO recently, with
some of the commissioners resigning, in order to main
tain a quorum, I've stayed on the Board at the request of
the other commissioners."
"As soon as new commissioners are appointed,"
Roe said, "I will resign. And, of course, I wouldn't be
able to hear any cases that have arisen out of STEDCO
during my term as Commissioner."
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Elections Slated
Nine tribal members are still in the running for
three Tribal Council positions. Elections in all the Area
Offices as well as in Siletz will determine the three
winners.
Recording to Eloise Case, Election Board Mem
ber, two tribal members have withdrawn from this year's
race. Raymond "Rocky" Hoiness and Illene Somes, both
citing family responsibilities, dropped out of the running
in January.
This year's candidates include incumbents Alfred
"Bud" Lane, DI, Priscilla "Pat" Morrell, and Frank
Simmons and newcomers Lillie Butler, John "BUI"
Christensen, LeonardFlanary, Jr., Monte Kentta, Marita
"Sylene" Lynch, and Mary Service Viles.
Voters will also be asked to say yeah or nay to a
ballot measure that would raise the hourly wage paid to
Tribal Council members.
Seepage 11 for this year's polling places and times.
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