PANELIST
The Honorable Melissa L. Pope
Chief Judge of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Court
Melissa L. Pope is honored to have been appointed to consecutive terms as Chief Judge of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Court since 2011, as well as elected to consecutive terms as the Chief Justice of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Court of Appeals since 2009. Judge Pope has also taught Federal American Indian Law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law since 2009.
Judge Pope has presented nationally and internationally on topics that include but are not limited to: the Epidemic of Violence Against American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Indigenous Hawaiians; the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), Relatives (MMIR), and People (MMIP) Crisis; Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Human Trafficking of Indigenous People; Creating Confidential, Trauma Informed, Culturally Honoring Services, Programs, and Courts for Victims of Violence; Creating Trauma Informed, Culturally Honoring Opportunities for Offenders; Creating and Sustaining Partnerships to End Violence and Support Victims; Jurisdiction in Indian Country; and Providing Trauma Informed, Culturally Honoring Services to and Ending Hate Crimes Against Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Questioning Individuals.
Some of Judge Pope’s current involvement includes serving as: President of the Michigan Indian Judicial Association; Governor appointed Member of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDSVPTB) and MDSVPTB Representative to Michigan’s Attorney General MMIP Task Force; NHBP Delegate to both the Intertribal Technical Assistance Working Group and Michigan Tribal, State, Federal Judicial Forum (Judicial Forum); Judicial Forum Representative to the Michigan Judicial Commission on Fairness and Public Trust; appointed Member of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) Access to Justice Policy Committee and American Indian Law Committee; and appointed Member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Recognitions for her engagement include the: American Judges Association 2025 Judge Libby Hines Domestic Violence Award; 2023 ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence Judith S. Kaye Judicial Excellence Award; 2023 SBM Unsung Heroes Award; 2014 S.A.F.E. Place Christine Lanning Heart and Soul Award; 2011 Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes Diversity Champion Award; and 2008 Spirit of Detroit Award.