Cherokee Nation Supreme Court weighs appeal in election

Wednesday, October 19, 2011  

The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has until Thursday to decide whether to accept an appeal from Chad Smith, who lost his re-election bid for principal chief.

Smith lost to Bill John Baker by more than 1,500 votes. He says the results are invalid because balloting was extended and because the Freedmen, who are the descendants of former slaves, were allowed to vote.

How can you have a legitimate election when hundreds of people voted illegally?" Smith told The Tulsa World. "Our election should be constitutionally sound, not politically expedient."

Even if the Freedmen votes were excluded, Baker says he still would have defeated Smith. But Smith wants to keep Baker from taking office until the issue is resolved.

Get the Story:
Cherokee election appeal heads to tribal court (The Tulsa World 1/19)

An Opinion:
Marge Burton: Freedmen gave up Cherokee rights (The Muskogee Phoenix 10/18)

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

Related Stories:
Ousted Cherokee Nation leader files appeal over election (10/18)
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)
Cherokee Nation sees increase in turnout for second election (9/26)
Results of Cherokee Nation principal chief vote due October 10 (9/23)
Column: Freedmen dispute a sad story for the Cherokee Nation (9/23)
Letter: Cherokee Freedmen dustup about sovereignty not race (9/23)
Judge approves order for Freedmen vote in Cherokee election (9/22)
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Federal judge to hear arguments in Cherokee Freedmen lawsuit (9/20)
NPR: Cherokee Nation facing scrutiny for ousting the Freedmen (9/20)
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Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)
Cherokee Nation to allow Freedmen to cast provisional ballots (9/15)
Editorial: Cherokee Nation faces pressure on fate of Freedmen (9/15)
Acting Cherokee Nation chief vows to protect tribe's interests (9/14)
BIA warns Cherokee Nation about disenrollment of Freedmen (9/13)
Lawmakers want HUD to restore funding to Cherokee Nation (9/12)
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Judge sets hearing on Freedmen motion for Cherokee election (9/6)
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Jay Tavare: Divide and conquer -- disenrollment among tribes (8/25)
Turtle Talk: Tribal courts, treaty rights and treaty rights disputes (8/25)
Cherokee Freedmen lose right to vote in upcoming chief election (8/24)
Decision allows Cherokee Nation to remove Freedmen from rolls (8/23)Steve Russell: The circus that has become the Cherokee Nation (9/15)