Indigenous Governance Database

Courts of Indian Offenses

Rae Nell Vaughn: Tribal Court Systems in the 21st Century: The Choctaw Tribal Court System

Former Chief Justice of the Mississippi Choctaw Supreme Court Rae Nell Vaughn provides a detailed overview of the growth and evolution of the Mississippi Choctaw's governance system and specifically its justice system, stressing the importance of Native nations providing a fair, effective,…

Robert A. Williams, Jr.: Law and Sovereignty: Putting Tribal Powers to Work

University of Arizona Professor of Law Robert A. Williams, Jr. provides an overview of the U.S. government's centuries-long assault on tribal sovereignty -- in particular the ability of Native nations to make and enforce law -- and stresses the importance of Native nations systematically building…