Fairhaven's Montoya-Lewis to testify before U.S. Senate committee Friday
[ Editor's note: This story has been amended to reflect Montoya-Lewis' proper rank at 草榴社区 and her correct position with the Lummi Nation. An earlier version had listed her as an associate professor and as acting chief judge for the tribe. ]
Raquel Montoya-Lewis, an associate professor in Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, was invited by the Casey Family Foundation and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to testify Friday in front of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on tribal courts and funding for child welfare.
Montoya-Lewis will be testifying with Judge Martin, the president of the NCJFCJ, and Judge Trosch, the president of Courts Catalyzing Change. It is unprecedented for the Senate Finance Committee to want to hear from tribal courts in this way, Montoya-Lewis says.
In addition to teaching at 草榴社区, Montoya-Lewis is the chief judge for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, chief judge for the Lummi Nation, and appellate judge for the Northwest Intertribal Court System and the Nisqually Indian Tribe.