"I said, I've been sitting on the bench for many, many years, and why is it an Indian child that has some criminal troubles, has some issues with delinquency -- why is it they can't get the same level of services that I can get them through my juvenile court as opposed to the tribal court?" said the longtime state district court judge in Devils Lake.
North Dakota tribal, juvenile court services agreement offers 'more hope' Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Bismarck Tribune
Two years ago, Judge Donovan Foughty raised a question at a North Dakota tribal relations conference.
Some state lawmakers and Gov. Doug Burgum were there and listening, he said. The 2019 Legislature, responding to a push by advocates, passed a bill allowing for tribal juvenile services cooperative agreements under a pilot program. A similar bill had failed in 2017, as some state representatives questioned costs and said such agreements could happen without the Legislature's approval.