NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE U.S. SENTENCING COMMISSION
The United States Sentencing Commission will hold a public hearing in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Tuesday, June 19, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the United States Courthouse, Courtroom No.1, 515 Ninth Street. The Commission, an independent agency within the judicial branch, is charged with the responsibility for promulgating the sentencing guidelines for courts to use when sentencing those convicted in federal court and for advising Congress on sentencing policy.
The Commission is holding this hearing in response to the March 2000 Report of the South Dakota Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, which recommends an assessment of the impact of the United States Sentencing Guidelines on Native Americans. Native Americans in Indian Country may be subject to federal criminal prosecution. Defendants convicted in federal court are sentenced in accordance with federal statutes and the federal sentencing guidelines which, in some cases, may have more serious penalties than similar state laws that apply to crimes committed off reservation land.
The nine tribal chairs from the South Dakota Indian tribes, or their designated representatives, will address the Commission at this hearing. The Commission will also hear from representatives of the law enforcement and legal defense communities, and victim rights advocates. Interested members of the public may attend the hearing and may submit written comments to the Commission on or before June 21, 2001.
Comments should be addressed to:
United States Sentencing Commission
Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building
Suite 2-500, South Lobby
One Columbus Circle, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002-8002
Attn: Michael Courlander, Public Affairs
Public Hearing of the U.S. Sentencing Commission
June 19, 2001
United States Courthouse, Courtroom No. 1
515 Ninth Street
Rapid City, South Dakota
9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
WELCOME/INTRODUCTION
Judge Diana E. Murphy, Chair
OPENING PRAYER
Gregg Bourland, Chair, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
BACKGROUND ON COMMISSION/PURPOSE OF HEARING
Judge Diana E. Murphy, Chair
PANEL I
Elsie Meeks, Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
John Yellow Bird Steele, President, Oglala Sioux Tribe
William Kindle, President, Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Gregg Bourland, Chair, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Michael Jandreau, Chair, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
PANEL II
Tom J. Peckham, Esq., Nordhaus, Haltom, Taylor, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Andrew Grey, Sr., Chair, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe
Tom Ranfranz, Chair, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Roxanne Sazue, Chair, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (invited)
Madonna Archambeau, Chair, Yankton Sioux Tribe (invited)
Charles Murphy, Chair, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
PANEL III
The Honorable Lawrence L. Piersol, Chief United States District Judge
Michelle G. Tapken, Interim U.S. Attorney, South Dakota
Marlys Pecora, Victims Witness Specialist, Office of the U.S. Attorney, Pierre, South Dakota
Ted L. McBride, Esq.,Beadsley, Jensen & Von Wald, Rapid City, South Dakota
Robert Van Norman, Esq., Federal Public Defender, Rapid City, South Dakota
Lisa Thompson, Executive Director, Child Advocacy Center, Ft. Thompson, South Dakota
PANEL IV
Professor Frank R. Pommersheim, University of South Dakota School of Law
Terry L. Pechota, Esq., Viken, Viken, Pechota, Leach & Dewell, L.L.P.
Marty Hansford, District Manager, BIA
CLOSING REMARKS
Judge Diana E. Murphy, Chair
(Panel participants are subject to change.)