Educating the tribal community regarding infectious disease and the law

The threats our nation faces from infectious diseases are matters of serious concern. Preventing or controlling the spread of infectious disease requires the action of many public health partners, including the judiciary. The courts will play a critical role in infectious disease control when called upon to adjudicate disputes and balance the rights of individuals against the need to protect the public's health. Therefore, it is essential that the judiciary understand the epidemiology of infectious diseases in relation to legal disputes. Public Health Law and Science: A Seminar for Judges is a training program developed by the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the CDC and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The Seminar has primarily focused on state court judges. However, in July 2012, the seminar was offered to the tribal judiciary of Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Sponsored by the Tohono O'odham Nation, participants included judges and representatives of tribal public health agencies from 7 tribes. Working closely with the Arizona Department of Health Services' tribal liaison, the Seminar was modified to fit tribal needs, including expanding presentations to incorporate state, federal, local and tribal speakers to reflect tribal governance. The Tribal Seminar revealed the lack of tribal public health infrastructure, including the absence of statutes and regulations regarding public health, and the need for basic services such as surveillance and epidemiology. This lack of infrastructure and public health services must be addressed before the tribal judiciary will be properly prepared for an infectious disease emergency.