Ousted Cherokee Nation leader files appeal over election

Tuesday, October 18, 2011  

Chad Smith lost his re-election bid for principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma but he's appealing the results.

Smith lost to Bill John Baker by more than 1,500 votes. He doesn't appear to be contesting the vote tally -- instead he wants to keep Baker from taking office until the status of the Freedmen is resolved.

As part of an agreement in federal court, the tribe reinstated the Freedmen, who are the descendants of former slaves. But Smith says Baker shouldn't be sworn in until the federal lawsuit is over.

Smith filed his appeal with the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court. He appointed all of the justices to the court.

Get the Story:
Smith files appeal in tribal election (The Tahlequah Daily Press 10/18)
Smith challenges Cherokee election results (The Tulsa World 10/18)
Smith files appeal with CN Supreme Court (The Cherokee Phoenix 10/17)
Former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith Smith files appeal of Cherokee election (AP 10/17)
Defeated Cherokee chief sues to stop succession (Reuters 10/17)
Baker announces inauguration ceremony (The Cherokee Phoenix 10/17)

Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Decisions:
Vann v. Salazar (October 11, 2011)
Cherokee Nation Registrar v. Nash (August 22, 2011)

Related Stories:
Letter: Acting Cherokee Nation chief defies tribe on Freedmen (10/17)
Cedric Sunray: Cherokee Nation joins the disenrollment club (10/17)
Bill John Baker certified as winner of Cherokee Nation election (10/13)
Turtle Talk: Cherokee Nation court inflames Freedmen dispute (10/13)
Opinion: Another view on the Cherokee Nation Freedmen flap (10/13)
Bill John Baker set to become new leader of Cherokee Nation (10/12)
Kimberly Horton: Cherokee Nation, racism and the Freedmen (10/12)
Cherokee Nation without HUD funds amid Freedmen dispute (10/11)
Cherokee Nation begins counting of ballots for principal chief (10/10)
Cherokee Nation anticipates results of election by Wednesday (10/7)
Opinion: Greed and racism with removal of Cherokee Freedmen (10/6)
Cherokee Nation extends balloting in ongoing Freedmen dispute (9/28)
Cherokee Nation faces contempt order in Freedmen vote dispute (9/27)
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Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)
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Editorial: Cherokee Nation faces pressure on fate of Freedmen (9/15)
Acting Cherokee Nation chief vows to protect tribe's interests (9/14)
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Jay Tavare: Divide and conquer -- disenrollment among tribes (8/25)
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Decision allows Cherokee Nation to remove Freedmen from rolls (8/23)Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)