In Tribal Justice, we meet two powerful California Indian judges, Yurok Judge Abby Abinanti and Quechan Judge Claudette White, as they forge innovative justice systems in order to keep their people out of prison, prevent children from being taken from their communities, and stop the school-to-prison pipeline that plagues their young people. Their justice is personal, dedicated, harking back to age-old traditions to help tribal members live in the modern world. Vérité footage of these judges’ lives and work form the backbone of the documentary, while the heart of the film follows several cases in and out of their courtrooms. Taos Proctor faces life in prison when we meet him in Abby’s court. Judge Claudette White invokes the Indian Child Welfare Act to reunite a nine-year-old boy with his family. Meanwhile her teenage nephew faces felony charges for breaking into cars. Tribal Justice shows these judges restoring rather than punishing offenders, modeling restorative justice in action.
87m/2017
Director: Anne Makepeace Writer: Anne Makepeace Producer: Anne Makepeace, Ruth Cowan Starring: Abby Abinanti and Claudette White, Chief Judges in their respective tribes
Friday April 6, 2018 12:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
CinéBistro at Solaris141 E Meadow Dr #104, Vail, CO 81657, USA
