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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation recently received a $253,399 grant to improve their existing court system.

"We needed the grant to enhance court operations", said Lisa Fields, court clerk for the Cherokee Nation. "It will help with calendaring, dockets, and publication of cases."

The United States Department of Justice awarded the grant to the Cherokee Nation Judicial Branch to purchase case management software, computer terminals, and to maintain an independent file server for publishing case files, as well as hire additional staff to do data entry.

The Cherokee Nation court system consists of the Cherokee Nation District Court and the Judicial Appeals Tribunal (JAT). The Cherokee Nation District court hears approximately 250 cases per year with an average of 25 of those cases appealed through the JAT. Currently there is no computerized system of tracking cases or fines that are received through the court clerk’s office.

With the purchase of case management software, court clerks will be able to schedule cases more efficiently and maintain case files. After the court makes a ruling, cases will be filed onto a file server where they can be accessed through a computer terminal that will be set up at the courthouse. Files that are not considered private will be available on-line for public access, as well as judge’s decisions on cases. The Cherokee Nation District Court also plans to maintain a database of outstanding warrants, domestic violence orders, court decisions, and child files, as well as a searchable case database for research.

"Such systems are very rare for tribal courts and it will allow the Cherokee Nation judicial branch to be an innovative leader among tribal judicial systems", said Stacy Leeds, Justice for the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation also has future plans to include in the database published decisions of historic Cherokee Nation court cases published prior to 1898. "Historically, the Cherokee Nation’s court systems have been an example for other tribal governments", said Principal Chief Chad Smith. "This grant will only continue the excellence of our judicial system."

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org