{"id":1563,"date":"2024-10-11T15:10:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T20:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/NativeVote\/?p=1563"},"modified":"2024-11-05T10:46:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T16:46:30","slug":"choctaw-nation-joins-tribes-in-supporting-retention-of-state-court-justices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/NativeVote\/2024\/10\/11\/choctaw-nation-joins-tribes-in-supporting-retention-of-state-court-justices\/","title":{"rendered":"Choctaw Nation joins tribes in supporting retention of state court justices"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Gary<\/div>\n\t<\/div>
Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton delivers the State of the Nation virtually on September 2, 2024. Photo: Choctaw Nation<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>
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Five<\/span> Tribes<\/span> support retention<\/span> of three Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices<\/b>\u00a0
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Inter-Tribal<\/span> Council resolutions also address the National Indian Gaming Commission<\/i><\/p>

DURANT, Oklahoma \u2013 The Inter-Tribal Council<\/a> (ITC) voted unanimously to support the retention of Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices Noma D. Gurich, Yvonne Kauger and James E. Edmondson.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

A resolution approved by the Tribal leaders noted the three justices \u2013 who are the only three up for retention on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot \u2013 have demonstrated a commitment and diligence in following Oklahoma law, as well as their understanding of tribal sovereignty.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cWe are proud to be Oklahomans and citizens of our nations and strive to partner effectively and collaboratively between our nations and the State of Oklahoma\u2019s leadership; we also believe in electing and appointing leaders in Oklahoma\u2019s state government who are also good partners to work collaboratively with our sovereign tribal governments,\" the resolution states.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

\"We believe Justices Kauger, Gurich and Edmonson have been targeted by a special interest group because of their rulings in favor of tribal<\/span> sovereignty. This group hopes these judges will be removed, and their replacements named by Gov. Stitt to further his policies against tribal<\/span> sovereignty. I urge all voters to retain these hard-working, fair, nonpartisan judges. This will help ensure the strides we have made as a tribal<\/span> nation and promote fairness in litigation in front of the Oklahoma Supreme Court,\u201d states Choctaw Nation<\/a> of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton.\u00a0<\/p>

In a separate resolution, the ITC voted to support the nomination of Patrice Kunesh (Standing Rock Lakota) as chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Kunesh\u2019s nomination has been subject to a hearing in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and she awaits confirmation by the full Senate.\u00a0<\/p>

Additionally, the ITC voted to support changes to the Indian Health Service\u2019s contract support cost policy to expand reimbursements and further statutory commands and the IHS Guiding Policies, while not placing tribes that have opted for self-determination at a disadvantage.\u00a0<\/p>

Other resolutions:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>