Physical Location:
31 Rodeo Drive, Laguna, New Mexico (Located in the Laguna Rehabilitation Center. Same building as the Laguna Detention Center.)
Mailing Address: Laguna Pueblo Court , PO Box 194, Old Laguna, NM 87026
Phone: (505) 552-1900
Fax: (505) 552-7186
E-Filings:
clerks@pol-nsn.gov
*When e-filing, please include in subject line CASE NUMBER and/or ATTN: (Clerk's name or traffic, civil, criminal, juvenile clerk)
Court Staff: Prosecutors Office:
Bruce Fox, Presiding Judge Chelsea Vandeventer, Chief Prosecutor
Eddie Gomez, Associate Judge Lyman Paul, Associate Prosecutor
LaDonna Giron, Pro Tem Judge Michelle Ray, Victims Advocate
Clarice M.Garcia, Court Administrator Christine Sarracino, Administrative Assistant
Deborah Cheromiah, Administrative Assistant II
Victoria Day, Bailiff/Process Server Public Defenders Office:
Janice Garcia, Traffic Clerk
Karleen Jose, Criminal Clerk/Wellness Court Clerk Janessa Garay, Public Defender
Tina Miller, Civil Clerk Michelle Lucero, Administrative Assistant for the
Natalie R. Pino, Juvenile Clerk Public Defender/Probation office
Vacant, Legal Assistant Probation / Parole Department:
Christopher Witt, Probation Manager
Thomasina Leon, Adult Probation Officer
Christine Sisneros, Adult Probation Officer/WC Coord.
Marilyn Joe, Juvenile Probation Officer
Elizabeth Martinez, Juvenile Probation Officer
Scope of Work:
The Pueblo of Laguna Court is the Judicial branch of the Pueblo of Laguna government. The Pueblo Court has jurisdiction over Civil and Criminal matters as they pertain to Laguna Tribal members and those non-tribal members who reside upon or enter the land of the Pueblo. The Pueblo Court consists of Civil, Criminal, Traffic and a Community Wellness Court. The Public Defender, the Prosecutor and Probation and Parole Services, are also under the umbrella of the Laguna Court/Judicial Branch.
The Pueblo Court hears all civil matters filed including but not limited to traffic, wildlife, trespass, probate, tort, commercial, debt, housing evictions and arrearages, paternity, legal separations, custody and support, adoptions, Laguna Social Services’ families in need of services, and child abuse and neglect matters under the Laguna Children’s Code and Indian Child Welfare Act cases.
The Court has concurrent criminal jurisdiction with the United States over major crimes and hears all matters under the Pueblo of Laguna Code. The criminal docket consists of arraignments, motion hearings, trials on the merits, sentencing hearings, probation review and revocation hearings, and parole request hearings.
The Public Defender provides legal defense services to defendants in criminal actions. The Prosecutor provides prosecution services on behalf of the Pueblo of Laguna in criminal actions. Probation and Parole Services are responsible for the monitoring of defendants who have been adjudicated in the Court and are either on probation or parole.
Mission: In accordance with the Constitution of the Pueblo of Laguna, the Pueblo of Laguna Judicial branch exercises its judicial powers in a professional, respectful, fair manner that recognizes tribal customs and traditions and protects tribal sovereignty while promoting community safety, open communication and justice.
General Information:
Court Hours: 8:00 a.m through 4:30 p.m (Court Clerk's Office open during lunch), Monday – Friday
ALL offices will be CLOSED on the following Observed POL Holidays:
Monday, May 25, 2020 - Memorial Day
Friday, July 3, 2020 - Independence Day
Monday, September 7, 2020 - Labor Day
Friday, September 18, 2020 - Laguna Feast
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 - Veteran's Day
Thursday, November 26, 2020 - Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27, 2020 - Workforce Excellence Day
Friday, December 25, 2020 - Christmas Day
Acceptance of Payments: No payment will be accepted without the case number and party’s name. Payments must be made by money order or cashier's check. The Court no longer accepts payments for child support, legal separation, civil payments to creditors and other costs awarded to parties in civil cases.
Service of process in civil cases: Whenever a person/party to a case files a petition, motion, or other pleading (document) with the Court, the person filing the document must include a certification that a copy of the document was mailed to the opposing party.
Court staff CANNOT provide legal advice: The Court Clerks, Judges, Administrative Assistant, Bailiff/Process Server and Court Administrator cannot provide legal advice to anyone. A list of attorneys & advocates who are licensed to practice in the Pueblo of Laguna Courts is available at the Clerks window or you can click on 2020 POL Approved attorneys (see below). The attorneys on the list are not affiliated with the Laguna Pueblo Courts.
Courtroom Rules & Protocols
- NO shorts, tank tops, cut offs, or any other type of revealing clothing allowed. You will be asked to wait outside the courtroom or will be required to change your clothes.
- No clothing that violates Executive Order No. 1-2010 or any laws of the Pueblo of Laguna.
- NO food or beverages
- NO children allowed unless the Judge has permitted their appearance.
- NO CELLPHONES unless used as evidence during your hearing (i.e. picture, voicemail or text message).
- NO hats/caps or sunglasses shall be worn inside courtroom.
- NO GUM CHEWING.
- NO talking unless you are addressing the Judge or testifying as a witness.
- NO contact with inmates if present in courtroom. This includes hand gestures, eye contact or verbal. If contact is made, YOU will be escorted from the courtroom.
Remain seated until you are called to the podium by the judge.
If your hearing requires photocopies that need to be given to the judge please inform the court bailiff or Court Clerk PRIOR to your hearing so that court hearings are not disrupted (i.e. proof of registration/insurance, receipts or medical records.)
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THE COURT CLERKS OF YOUR CURRENT PHYSICAL RESIDENCE AND POSTAL ADDRESS.
IF YOU ARE PETITIONING TO HAVE SOMEONE BROUGHT TO COURT (SUMMONED), IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE CURRENT RESIDENCE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL AND INFORM THE COURT CLERKS SO THAT PROPER NOTIFICATION MAY BE MADE.
Docket Schedule:
Mondays & Thursdays - Criminal case hearings (all day)
Tuesdays- Civil case hearings (all day) included is W/C
Wednesdays- Civil and/or Civil Juvenile cases (temporarily included are Criminal Arraignments)
Thursdays - Trespass, Wildlife, Animal Control and Traffic hearings in the morning
Fridays - Only for emergency hearings or criminal arraignments that have deadlines.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC below are following changes that are in effect until further notice. At this time we are not allowing anyone to enter the Court building due to the increased number of cases of COVID-19. We will be accomodating everyone by phone or if you are dropping off court documents or a payment, one of the Court personnel will assist you at the front door. In addition, the court will continue to operate on a regular basis from 8:00 am- 4:30pm (we are open during the lunch hour).
Furthermore, temporary procedures for court hearings have been put in place making it safe and convenient for everyone to address any court related matters.
All scheduled hearings will be heard telephonically, please call the courts informing us when your court hearing is scheduled and provide a valid contact number, we will call you when your hearing is ready to begin. OR if you would like to reschedule your hearing, you can print a Motion or a Motion for Continuance & other Court petitions on the links provided below. Please make sure to indicate your case number, state what it is inference too and provide your accurate phone # and address. Email your motions and/or documents you would like to submit to the courts to clerks@pol-nsn.gov. IF you do not see a form you are looking for feel free to call us at 552-1900 or we can email / mail / fax petitions or forms to you.
All probation/parole matters contact your assigned probation officer or Chris Witt-Program Manager or call the Probation/Public Defender administrative assistant at 552-1941. Leave a detailed message including your name and phone number. They will instruct you as to what precautionary measures they are taking for all drug/alcohol testing, etc.
Click on the links below to print out a form or petition. Once your form is complete, please mail or personally file it with the Laguna Tribal Courts. All petitions including the Civil complaint require a $6.00 filing fee in the form of a Money Order or Cashier's Check.
General Court Forms
Civil Forms
Probate Petition Petition to Establish Paternity
Civil Complaint Petition for Custody
Petition for Visitation Petition for Child Support
UPDATED petitions, forms, Court information will be added throughout the 2020 year.
Probation & Parole Services Mission:
The mission of the Pueblo of Laguna Probation/Parole services is to perform the duties described under the Pueblo of Laguna Code. The office is also charged with the supervision of individuals released on bond, placed on pre-trial diversion or placed on probation or parole by the Pueblo Court and to ensure the compliance with all court ordered conditions. Probation/Parole services also provides rehabilitative services.
Probation & Parole Services Scope of Work
Probation/Parole Services is managed by the Probation Manager and is included in the Pueblo Court organizational structure. Probation/Parole Services is divided into Adult Probation/Parole Services and Juvenile Probation services. Adult services include but are not limited to pre-trial monitoring, supervision of individuals placed on probation or parole, and rehabilitative services including the Laguna Community Wellness Court. Juvenile services include, but are not limited to supervision of juveniles placed on probation, truancy meetings, supervision and referral of juvenile complaints to the Juvenile Prosecutor, and transport to and from juvenile detention and treatment services. Both adult and juvenile probation officers also conducts office visits, home/school visits, urine drug and/or alcohol breath testing, and case staffing with appropriate community service providers.