Wellness Court Celebrates 10 Years

Formed in 2006, the Leech Lake-Cass County Wellness Court was the first joint jurisdiction wellness court in the nation. The Wellness Court is a post-conviction, post-sentencing DWI court founded on the 10 principals of drug courts. The court handles the cases of both tribal members and non-Indians and today celebrated not only 10 years of the court but also the new building.

With natural light filling the room, a drumming group played special music to congratulate those who graduated from the program. Its success stories like these graduates that leave these judges with a good feeling of knowing that 10 years ago, this revolutionary program has played in the positive change in so many lives.

To see the program come so far, other communities across the United States have taken notice of the wellness courts success and now are implementing similar programs in their court systems.

Looking to the future there remains only high hopes for the program and to see a broader joint effort between tribes and the state.

The ceremony also included a pipe presentation as well as a blessing of the pipe and a feast.