Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation facts for kids
The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation is the highest court for the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is the largest American Indian nation in the United States. This court is like the top legal authority for the Navajo people.
According to Harvard Law School, the Navajo Nation's court system is very active. It handles many cases, sometimes even more than city or state courts. The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation is located in Window Rock. It has three judges. These judges are the Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne, and Associate Justices Eleanor Shirley and Tina Tsinigine.
History of the Court
The Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation began a long time ago. It was first created on April 1, 1959. Back then, it was called the Navajo Tribal Court of Appeals. This court was part of a big change. The Navajo Tribal Council decided to make the court system a separate part of their government. They called it the "Judicial Branch of the Navajo Nation Government."
Becoming the Highest Court
When it first started, the Navajo Tribal Court of Appeals was the final court. This means it was the court of last resort for legal cases on the Navajo Nation. From 1978 to 1985, there was another group. This group was called the "Supreme Judicial Council." It was more of a political group than a court. This council could sometimes choose to hear appeals from the Navajo Tribal Court of Appeals.
In December 1985, the Supreme Judicial Council was removed. After that, the Navajo Tribal Court of Appeals officially became the Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation. It was then clearly stated that this court was the final court for all appeals.
See also
In Spanish: Corte Suprema de la Nación Navajo para niños
