"The Only Independent Cherokee Newspaper"
"The Original On-line Independent Cherokee Newspaper"
Copyright © 1992-2002 All Worldwide Rights
Reserved
The Cherokee
Observer, Inc.
http://www.cherokeeobserver.org
THE CHEROKEE SUPREME COURT (JAT)
DECLARES ACTIONS OF
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES NULL AND VOID
IN THE JUDICIAL APPEALS TRIBUNAL
OF THE CHEROKEE NATION
IN THE MATTER OF DECLARING NULL AND VOID ACTIONS
OF SUSPENDED
DISTRICT JUDGE TINA JORDAN AND ASSOCIATE
DISTRICT JUDGE DEWAYNE LITTLEJOHN
JAT NO. AD 97-12
ORDER
In May, 1997,
District Judge Jordan, without contacting or obtaining
the approval of any of the Justices of the Judicial Appeals Tribunal,
removed her office and District Court files from the Cherokee
Nation Courthouse. Judge Jordan, with the assistance and support
of Principal Chief Joe Byrd and his staff, then proceeded to
create an illegal court system housed at the Tribal Complex. Judge
Jordan and Associate District Judge DeWayne Littlejohn, since his
appointment, have conducted hearings and other court business at the complex.
Judge Jordan is also controlling the District Court budget.
Because of the unlawful actions
taken by Judge Jordan, the Judicial Appeals Tribunal issued
Orders on May 14, 1997, May 15, 1997, and June 2, 1997,
suspending Judge Jordan from all District Judge duties. The
Court suspended Judge Jordan pursuant to it's inherent powers and
statutory duties. The Judicial Appeals Tribunal has repeatedly requested
and directed Judge Jordan and associate District Judge DeWayne Littlejohn
to return to the Courthouse, and to bring with them the District Court
files. However, both judges continue to ignore the requests.
THEREFORE, THIS COURT
IS BOUND TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST AND INTEGRITY IN THE JUDICIAL
SYSTEM; AND, THUS, has no other alternative than to ORDER AND
DECLARE ALL ACTS PERFORMED, DECISIONS RENDERED AND ORDERS ENTERED
BY JUDGE JORDAN FROM MAY 14, 1997, TO THE PRESENT, AS
A DISTRICT JUDGE, TO BE NULL AND VOID, AND THE SAME IS TRUE AS TO
ANY FUTURE ACTIONS TAKEN BY JUDGE JORDAN, UNTIL FURTHER ORDER OF THIS COURT.
THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AS VALID BY THE JUDICIAL APPEALS TRIBUNAL.
LIKEWISE, ALL ACTS PERFORMED,
DECISIONS RENDERED AND ORDERS
ENTERED BY ASSOCIATE JUDGE DEWAYNE LITTLEJOHN, UNTIL FURTHER
ORDER OF THIS COURT. THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AS VALID BY THE JUDICIAL
APPEALS TRIBUNAL.
Moreover, both District
Judge Jordan and Associate District Judge Littlejohn are ORDERED TO IMMEDIATELY
RETURN ALL DISTRICT COURT FILES, EQUIPMENT AND RELATED MATERIAL TO THE
CHEROKEE NATION COURTHOUSE.
The Court Clerk of the
Judicial Appeals Tribunal (Supreme Court) is directed to provide a file
stamped copy of this document to District Judge Tina Jordan, Associate
District Judge DeWayne Littlejohn, and to all members of the Judicial Appeals
Tribunal.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 3rd day of
December 1997.
_____SIGNED_______________
Ralph F. Keen,
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE CHEROKEE NATION