Board of Directors

Hon. Abby Abinanti

Board Chairperson

Honorable Judge Abby Abinanti is an enrolled Yurok Tribal member and the first California tribal woman admitted to the California Bar. She served as a Superior Court Commissioner in San Francisco for more than 17 years, where she worked within the Unified Family Court and dedicated much of her career to supporting vulnerable populations, particularly in juvenile dependency and delinquency matters.

Judge Abinanti has served the Yurok Tribal Court since 1997 and was appointed Chief Judge in 2007, a position she continues to hold. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1973 and has extensive experience as a speaker and trainer on the Indian Child Welfare Act, child maltreatment, and best practices for supporting at‑risk youth.

In partnership with the Yurok Tribal Council, Chief Judge Abinanti has been instrumental in the development of the Yurok Children’s Code, Yurok Family Code, and the Judicial Ordinance, significantly expanding the Tribe’s body of law and strengthening its judicial infrastructure. She is currently leading efforts to enhance the Tribe’s concurrent‑jurisdiction capacity and to improve services for Yurok members, families, and children.

Amber Miller

Board Vice Chairperson

Amber Miller, Yurok Supervising Staff Attorney.

Celina Kleinhans

Board Treasurer

Celina Kleinhans serves as the Court Office Manager for the Yurok Tribe and is nearing nine years of service with the Yurok Tribal Court. An enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, Ms. Kleinhans brings over fourteen years of experience serving her community in a variety of tribal roles.

She holds an Associate Degree in Behavioral and Social Science and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership Studies at California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt, to further develop her expertise in tribal governance and organizational leadership.

Ms. Kleinhans is dedicated to advancing the effectiveness and integrity of the Yurok Tribal Court and remains committed to the long-term success and well-being of the Yurok people.

Jessica Carter

Board Secretary

Jessica Carter serves as the Court Director for the Yurok Tribe and has dedicated the past 15 years to developing and strengthening the Tribe’s modern justice system. An enrolled Yurok Tribal member, she descends from traditional healers of the villages of Requa, Wehlkwew, Hoppaw, Sregon, Wausec, and the coastal village at Dry Lagoon in Northern California.

Ms. Carter is a member of the California Bar and holds a Master’s Degree in American Indian Studies from UCLA. Her thesis, Keeping Watch: The Poh-lik-la and Their Lands, examined the long history of Yurok victimization and land loss from 1850 to the present.

In her role as Tribal Court Director, Jessica oversees a wide range of restorative‑justice programs focused on substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). She played a key role in establishing the Yurok Wellness Court and the Joint Jurisdiction Courts in both Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

Through her work, Jessica has witnessed the lasting impacts of historical trauma—from boarding schools and forced assimilation to genocide and mass incarceration. Her belief that Yurok people deserve the opportunity to be well, whole, and in balance again guides her leadership and commitment to service.

Jessica is married to a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and middle‑school teacher, and they have a son currently in high school. She attributes her dedication to tribal service to her parents: her father, a Vietnam veteran, and her mother, a longtime tribal planner who brought essential services to Native communities.