Chief Judge Leona Colegrove 

Our Children Deserve Better: Reimagining Systems Through Indigenous Justice | The Honorable Leona Colegrove is a nationally recognized Tribal court leader, attorney, and judicial innovator whose career has been dedicated to strengthening Tribal justice systems, advancing Tribal sovereignty, and improving outcomes for Native communities through collaboration, accountability, and culturally informed justice.

Judge Colegrove serves as the Chief Judge of the Quinault Nation, where she is also a citizen. She is also the Chief Judge of the Elk Valley and the Alturas Rancheria and Tribal Courts in Northern California. A proud Quinault, Hupa, Yurok and Saanich woman, she has practiced law since 2000 and has served as both a Tribal and State Court judge since 2006. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law, where she received a special concentration certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Throughout her career, Judge Colegrove has become one of the nation’s leading voices in therapeutic justice and Tribal court innovation. She developed the first Tribal Adult Healing to Wellness Courts for the Quinault Indian Nation, the Quileute Tribe and later led the creation of the groundbreaking Hoopa Valley Tribe-Humboldt County Joint Jurisdiction Family Wellness Court, a nationally recognized model demonstrating how Tribal and state courts can work together while respecting Tribal sovereignty and improving outcomes for families. She is currently forging joint jurisdiction relationships between the Quinault Court and the local Courts in Grays Harbor County, Washington. Under her leadership, the Quinault Tribal Court has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most innovative Tribal justice systems, expanding services for adults, juveniles, and families through Healing to Wellness Courts, enhanced victim services, trauma-informed practices, and coordinated community partnerships. She is leading significant efforts to enhance the implementation of Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction, strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, modernize Tribal court operations, and expand access to justice through strategic grant development and intergovernmental collaboration.

Judge Colegrove has served in numerous national and regional leadership roles, including the Executive Board of the National American Indian Court Judges Association, the Governing Board of the Washington State Tribal Court Judges Association, the California Tribal-State Court Forum, and the Washington Tribal/State Court Consortium. She also made history as the first Native judge appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care. Her leadership has earned national recognition. In 2023, the National Judicial College named Judge Colegrove one of its “60 Courageous Judges,” recognizing judges from around the world whose courage, innovation, and commitment have transformed the administration of justice. Judge Colegrove is a frequent national presenter on Tribal justice, judicial leadership, Healing to Wellness Courts, Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction, victim-centered justice, grant development, and Tribal-state collaboration. She is widely respected for her ability to bridge systems while remaining firmly grounded in the principles of Tribal sovereignty, community healing, and the rule of law. Whether presiding from the bench, developing innovative justice programs, or speaking to audiences across the country, Judge Colegrove brings a practical, visionary approach to justice – one that recognizes that strong Tribal courts not only resolve disputes but also strengthen governments, protect communities, restore families, and uphold the inherent sovereignty of Tribal Nations