Search Results for:

Judge Robert A. Blaeser is a retired District Court Judge of Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District-Hennepin County. Appointed in 1995 by former Governor Arne Carlson as the first American Indian judge appointed to the busiest judicial district in Minnesota, Blaeser served in Hennepin’s Juvenile Court until January of 2003, when he completed a 2-1/2-year term as Chief. He continued to serve in adult court until his retirement from the bench in October 2012. Blaeser served two terms as Presiding Judge of the Civil Division before his retirement.

Gregory H. Bigler (Euchee, enrolled with Muscogee Creek Nation) is a private practitioner of Indian Law solely representing Native American tribes. In addition to sitting for the Mashantucket Pequot Court of Appeals, Judge Bigler serves as a tribal court judge for the Prairie Band Potawatomi, and sits on the Supreme Court for the Kansas Kickapoo Tribe. He is a Tribal Prosecutor for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, where he previously served as district court judge.

Jill E. Tompkins, an enrolled member of the Penobscot Nation, resides on Indian Island, Penobscot Nation Reservation, Maine. She graduated from The King’s College with a B.A. in English and History from the University of Maine School of Law. She is admitted to practice in the States of Maine, Connecticut (retired), and Colorado, tribal courts of the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and the United States Supreme Court. In addition to sitting on the Mashantucket Pequot Court of Appeals, she is also an Appellate Justice for Passamaquoddy and Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Courts of Appeal and as a Judge pro tempore for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community and the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara). Judge Tompkins previously served on the trial level as Chief Judge with the Mashantucket Pequot and Passamaquoddy Tribal Courts

Jean Lucasey (Oneida/Blackfeet/Salish descent) was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and received her B.A. in art history from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. After receiving her M.A. in journalism from the University of Missouri, she worked as a journalist for Gannett Corp. and taught news writing and copy editing at Iona College in New York before earning her J.D. at the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2000.

Edward O’Connell was born in New York City, raised in New Haven, Connecticut and resides in East Lyme, Connecticut with his wife Jeanne. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.S. in Biology, and graduated from the University Of Connecticut School Of Law in 1968.

Judge Londregan was born and raised in New London, CT. He attended local schools and thereafter attended Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT where he was a member of the President’s Circle and President of the Cardinal Key Society. After graduating from Fairfield University with a B.A. in Economics, he attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, graduating in 1969.

Michele Scott is a Tribal Councilor for the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and a Master of Science degree from Quinnipiac University. She also received a Certification in Genealogical Research from Boston University. Michele chairs the Tribe's Economic Development and Health & Human Services Committees. Her commitment to health and economic development has been at the forefront of her professional career; she was Chairwoman of the Mashantucket Pequot Health Care Advisory Board and a founding Director for Command Holdings, LLC. that focuses on federal contracting. She is also a founding member of the Tribal Leadership Council which she continues to serve. Prior to Tribal Council, Michele served as the Executive Director of the Health Education Center, Inc. (HEC) of Connecticut.

Daniel Menihan, Jr. has been a Member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council since 2016. He is currently serving his second term of office. Councilor Menihan chairs the Tribe's Parks & Recreation and Historical & Cultural Preservation Committees. The first of his generation to serve on Tribal Council, Councilor Menihan brings nearly a decade of community involvement and team management experience to the Council through higher education, tribal events, and career work in the areas of business management and tribal government.

Crystal M. Whipple is a Member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council and is serving her fourth non-consecutive term of office. Councilor Whipple chairs the Tribe's Education and Natural Resources Protection Committees, and in 2019 was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Connecticut Commission on Community Service. During her tenure on Tribal Council, Mrs. Whipple served three years as Vice-Chairwoman, one year as Tribal Council Secretary, and chaired the Administrative Support and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committees.

Merrill "Marvin" Reels is the Treasurer of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, serving his second term of office since January 2017. He was re-appointed the role of Tribal Council Treasurer on January 2, 2020. Treasurer Reels chairs the Tribe's Finance and Public Safety Committees, and previously chaired the Judicial Committee. Treasurer Reels graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia—widely regarded as the nation's foremost historic private minority liberal arts college. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Education Advancement Program (LEAP) at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Matthew Pearson is the Secretary of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, serving his third consecutive term of office as of 2024. Secretary Pearson chairs the Tribe's Administrative Support and Judicial Committees. Among the many internal boards and teams that he serves on, Secretary Pearson is most proud to be one of the two advisors to the Youth Council. As part of his commitment to advancing the Tribe’s business portfolio, he serves on the Boards of Directors for both Wondr Nation and Foxwoods El San Juan. Secretary Pearson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Media and Communications from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as well as a Certificate in Publishing from the University of Denver's Publishing Institute.

Latoya Cluff is the Vice Chairwoman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, serving her third term of office as of 2024. Vice Chairwoman Cluff chairs the Tribe's Community Planning and Housing Committees. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of New Haven, Vice Chairwoman Cluff holds a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations with a concentration in Human Resources Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Johnson and Wales University.

Rodney A. Butler is the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation since January, 2010. Mr. Butler’s service on Tribal Council began in 2004, one year later in 2005, he was appointed Tribal Council Treasurer; a position he held through 2009. During his tenure, Mr. Butler chaired the Tribe’s Finance, Housing and Judicial Committees, the MPTN Utility Authority, and served as an Interim CEO for Foxwoods Resort Casino.