2019 NNBA Rules Committee Survey

As a NNBA member, we thank you for taking to time to take this quick survey (5 minutes or less), as it will help the Rules Committee in their effort to prioritize the redrafting of the various sets of rules of practice for attorneys on the Navajo Nation. There are 16 formal sets of rules, to wit:

District Court Rule Effective Date
1. Navajo Pro Bono Rules June 18, 1996
2. Navajo Children's Code Rules of Procedure November 1, 1995
3. Navajo Courts' Uniform Sentencing Policy August 13, 1994
4. Navajo Rules for Small Claims Proceedings November 22, 1993
5. Navajo Policy on Appointment of Counsel and Indigency October 2, 1993
6. Navajo Rules for Domestic Violence Proceedings October 2, 1993
7. Navajo Rules of Criminal Procedure November 1, 1990
8. Navajo Rules of Civil Procedure July 1, 1989
9. Navajo Rules for Declaratory Rulings on Questions of Navajo Law June 24, 1983
10. Navajo Rules for Repossession of Personal Property Proceedings January 29, 1982
11. Navajo Rules for Exclusion Proceedings January 11, 1982
12. Navajo Rules of Probate Procedure April 1, 1978
13. Navajo Rules of Evidence April 1, 1978
14. Navajo Rules of Court April 1, 1978

Appellate Court Rules Effective Date
15. Navajo Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure March 1, 1987
16. Navajo Rules of Appellate Procedure April 1, 1978

They are dated, hence the need to revisit them. Your participation and input is vital to the Rules Committee’s efforts to prioritize which rules need to be addressed first.

Please carefully review and answer the following survey questions. Be sure to provide detailed responses to the survey questions to ensure that your comments and concerns are considered by the Rules Committee. Please note that yes or no answers will not be considered.

The NNBA Executive Director Rod Morris can be reached at rmorris@navajolaw.info if you have any questions.

We appreciate your participation and assistance in this important endeavor. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

Sincerely,

NNBA Rules Committee

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* 1. Name:

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* 2. How long have you been a member of the NNBA?

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* 3. In your practice on the Navajo Nation, what set of rules do you use most often? (Please identify your area of practice and select up to three rules.)

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* 4. What sets of rules would you prioritize for redrafting? (Please select up to three.)

First Priority:

Second Priority:

Third Priority:

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* 5. For each set of rules you selected in question 4, state why you feel it is a priority.

First Priority:

Second Priority:

Third Priority:

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* 6. Please share several stories of significant problems you have encountered with any particular rules. (Please share up to three stories.)

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* 7. Are there rules that are hard to understand for you, your clients or pro se parties? (Please identify up to three.)

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* 8. How would you recommend the rules be made more consistent and/or respectful of Navajo Traditional Law?

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* 9. Please give specific examples of how your responses to Question 8 could be accomplished. (No more than three examples.)

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* 10. Would you be willing to either help in redrafting the rules or participate in the preliminary review of the redrafted rules? If so, how can we reach you?