2.10.70 Right to Representation.
Any person who is a party in any civil trial or proceedings before the St. Paul Island Tribal Court may represent herself or himself, or be represented by any other enrolled member of the Tribe. Any person who is a party in any civil trial or proceedings before the St. Paul Island Tribal Court shall not be represented by the Tribal Court Clerk, an Assistant Clerk, a Judge or Justice of the Tribal Court, a member of the Tribal Council, a Tribal Executive Officer or Manager, a Tribal Police Officer, or a professional attorney or lawyer.
(a) Tribal Authorization of Lay Representatives.
(1) Laypersons who are enrolled members of the Tribe may become authorized to practice in the St. Paul Island Tribal Court by:
(i) Filing an affidavit with the Clerk which states that the applicant is an enrolled member of the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island; and
(ii) Filing an affidavit with the Court Clerk which states that the applicant has studied and is familiar with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, this code, and all other ordinances of the Tribal Government, Title 25 of the United States Code and Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and
(iii) Paying an annual license fee of ten dollars ($10.00); and
(iv) Taking the following oath before the Court Clerk either in person or by affidavit:
I ____________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support all laws of the Tribal Government of St. Paul Island and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island. I will maintain the respect due to the Tribal Court and its judicial officers; and I will employ confidentiality for the purposes of maintaining the causes confided to me, and such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and I will never seek to mislead any Judge, justice, jury or Elder by any artifice, or by false statement or misrepresentation of fact or law; and I will conduct myself in an orderly, courteous and respectful manner and shall not misbehave or disrupt, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with the conduct of any proceeding by the Court or the administration of justice by the St. Paul Island Tribal Court. I also understand that violation this oath by my actions or words may result in a Contempt of Court Citation with appropriate remedies applied by the Tribal Court.
(b) Revocation of Lay Representation Authorization. Any authorization issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be revoked or suspended by the Tribal Court. Such action may be taken on its own motion or upon sworn complaint by any enrolled member of the Tribe. Revocation or suspension shall be ordered only after written notice to the authorized lay representative of the motion or complaint and after a hearing before the presiding Judge of the Tribal Court assigned to the case unless a conflict of interest prohibits such participation. Following a hearing, the Tribal Court may revoke or suspend the authorization upon a finding that the authorized lay representative:
(1) Has been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States; or
(2) Has been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law by any court of the United States, or of any state, or of any tribal court; or
(3) Has filed a false affidavit with the Tribal Court Clerk to obtain her/his authorization; or
(4) Has violated her/his oath made before the Tribal Court Clerk; or
(5) Has engaged in misconduct or unethical conduct in any other jurisdiction; or
(6) Has been found in contempt of court by the Tribal Court. [2008 Code § 2.2.7; Res. 1999-17]