California legal term
Tribal court in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Tribal court” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “Tribal court” mean in California criminal law?
“Tribal court” means a court with jurisdiction over child custody proceedings, and that is either a Court of Indian Offenses, a court established and operated under the code or custom of an Indian tribe, or any other administrative body of a tribe that is vested with authority over child custody proceedings. (Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 224.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.