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Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation

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The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation is a tribal court in Window Rock, Arizona. It is the court of last resort for all cases filed in the Navajo Nation court system.[1]

About tribal courts

There were approximately 400 tribal courts in the United States as of 2021, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.[2] These courts can hear both criminal and civil cases regarding tribal code. Tribes that do not establish their own court may use a regional Court of Indian Offenses. These are also known as CFR Courts, since they were established by the Code of Federal Regulations.[3]

Jurisdiction

The Navajo Nation Supreme Court hears appeals from the district and family courts in each of the 11 judicial districts of the Navajo Nation.[4][5][6]

History

  • 1959: The Navajo Nation Council created the Navajo Nation Court system. It was a two-tiered system, with the Court of Appeals hearing appeals from the trial courts.
  • Late 1970s: The Chairman of the Navajo Nation created the Supreme Judicial Council to review decisions made by the Court of Appeals.
  • 1985: The Navajo Nation Council passed the Judicial Reform Act, which replaced both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Judicial Council with the Supreme Court. The act thereby restored a two-tiered judiciary.[7]

External links

Footnotes