Rhonda Decontie was sworn in on May 3, 2023, as the first Magistrate Judge of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court. In 2024 she was also appointed to serve as the first Magistrate Judge for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. During her career at the Tribal Court, Magistrate Judge Decontie has held many positions, Deputy Clerk, Clerk of Courts, Healing to Wellness Cultural Advisor, and now Magistrate Judge. She has played a crucial role in the development of the Nation’s problem-solving court. In her role as Cultural Advisor to the Healing to Wellness Court she was instrumental in changing the Wellness Court away from the punishment-based court used by states. Magistrate Judge Decontie continues to oversee the Courts day-to-day operations but also takes the responsibility for reviewing and authorizing search warrants, ex parte child protective orders, and ex parte Protection from Abuse and Harassment Orders. She will also serve as the lead in developing an early intervention court utilizing the braided services approach to assist families in obtaining services so that they do not enter the child protective system.