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TAHLEQUAH - In a ruling late last week Chief Justice Dwight D. Birdwell ordered the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma to pay Associate District Judge Drew Wilcoxen $28,000 in compensation for missed back pay, after ruling that his term for judge had not yet expired.

The ruling came after finding that Judge Wilcoxen's term does not expire until February 23, 1999. Attorneys for Judge Wilcoxen presented records that showed that the appointment, made by former Chief Wilma Mankiller, was for a full four years.

Chief Byrd fired Judge Wilcoxen early in 1998 stating that Justice Wilcoxen's term had expired because his judicial appointment had been only to serve out an unexpired term.