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