Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/08/2025
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Description
ICWA is too often sidelined in youth court—whether because of interpretations like In re W.B., Jr. or because systems fail to conduct meaningful inquiry, give notice when appropriate, and connect youth to tribal services. This training clarifies what ICWA means in delinquency practice, common pitfalls, and when notice and engagement are warranted. Participants leave with practical tools to identify Native youth early, build a record that supports action, and partner with tribes and community resources so youth are appropriately served.
Click here to register
MCLE Information
This training is eligible for 1.5 Hours of General MCLE
*CYDC certifies that this activity conforms to the standards of approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing Minimum Continuing Legal Education.
**Unless otherwise noted, these trainings are intended for members of the youth defense community only, including attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals, mitigation specialists, law office professionals, and other job roles on defense teams.
Speakers
Judge Abby Abinanti
ABBY ABINANTI, Yurok Chief Judge is an enrolled Yurok Tribal member, she holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of New Mexico School of Law, and was the first California tribal woman to be admitted to the State Bar of California. She was a State Judicial Officer (Commissioner) for the San Francisco Superior Court for over 17 years assigned to the Unified Family Court (Family/Dependency/
Elly Hoopes
Elly Hoopes serves as a contract panel attorney representing the majority of delinquency youths in Del Norte and as a contract panel attorney representing families in dependency matters. She previously was the Executive Director of the Yurok Tribe and and worked for the Yurok Tribe as Associate General Counsel. Hoopes acted as legal support for the Tribe’s Joint Jurisdictional Courts with both Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, and as the Tribe’s ICWA attorney in State Court and the Attorney for Yurok Health and Human Services in Yurok Tribal Court. In addition, Hoopes was one of two lead trainers hosted by the King College of Law, UC Davis and Tribal College, in their first Tribal Court Advocacy Training for judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Prior to coming to work for the Tribe, Hoopes was an Adjunct Professor at University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, teaching Native American Appellate Advocacy, and was a Senior Deputy
Public Defender. Hoopes sat as the defense representative on the Colorado 18th Judicial District Veteran’s Treatment Court and represented thousands of adults and juveniles at every stage of their criminal defense for 12 years.
Hoopes grew up traveling all over the world with her family, her father being a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Born in Washington D.C., she moved to Calcutta, India, at a year old, and lived in New Delhi; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Beirut, Lebanon, before returning to Washington D.C. at 12. She attended Vassar College, receiving an AB in English Literature. Hoopes went on to receive her Juris Doctorate and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver. Prior to attending law school she was an environmental educator, and humanitarian advocate working with local programs in Nepal and Mongolia, as well as, designing and leading rigorous travel trips to both regions and to Tibet. Hoopes is at home in the outdoors, she cherishes the beauty of this planet, and Northern California specifically. When Hoopes is not in Court, you can find her skiing, swimming, hiking or camping with her three English Mastiffs.