Guest Opinion. As a sovereign government, one of Cherokee Nation’s most profound responsibilities is providing safety and enacting justice across our Reservation. This task is rooted in deep Cherokee values of protecting our citizens and neighbors, and we carry it out through a modern justice system, exemplified by efficiency and collaboration.
We were recently honored to provide a tour of our justice system operations to representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice: Principal Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and Director of the Office of Tribal Justice Gina Allery. The visit showcased Cherokee Nation’s effective system of policing and prosecution for our important federal partners.
For nearly two centuries, Cherokee Nation has upheld a vision of justice anchored in accountability and self-determination. From the adoption of the 1839 Cherokee Nation Constitution, we operated a judicial branch including a Supreme Court and district courts, as well as the oldest law enforcement entity in Oklahoma, the Cherokee Lighthorsemen, now known as the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.
This system has grown exponentially following restored legal recognition of our jurisdictional authority by the McGirt decision and others. We have gone from handling fewer than 100 criminal cases annually before McGirt to filing more than 25,000 charges since the ruling…